Department of Education Initiatives - The Department of Education aims to work with Congress to potentially close the department, ensuring educational services and funding continue to flow through the states [2][3] - The department is beginning a process of discussion with both Republicans and Democrats regarding the potential closure, with more initial support from the Republican side [4][5] - The administration has revoked billions of dollars in funding to several private universities, including Harvard, Colombia, Cornell, Brown, and Princeton, due to concerns over compliance with laws and campus activities [7] - The department is considering an all-of-government approach to higher education, coordinating with agencies like the State Department, HHS, and DOJ [30][35][36] - There was a suggestion to dismantle the department, with functions potentially moving to agencies like the SBA or Treasury, though this is still under discussion [41][42] University Funding and Compliance - Universities are expected to abide by US laws to receive taxpayer-funded programs, and negotiations are ongoing to determine if and when funding will be restored [12][13][14] - The administration is looking at universities' practices and programs, encouraging self-evaluation to ensure compliance [15] - The IRS is reviewing Harvard's tax-exempt status, considering the university's $53 billion endowment and whether some of that should return to citizens [21][22] - The department reminded Colombia's accreditor to ensure the university complies with the law, particularly Title VI civil rights [24][25] - The administration may restrict access to federal student aid for universities violating civil rights, as taxpayers expect compliance with the law [28][29] International Students and Foreign Funding - The president has floated imposing a 15% cap on international students, specifically mentioning Harvard, to ensure US students are not penalized [36][37] - Universities are required to report the amount of foreign funding they receive under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act to prevent undue influence [35] - The administration wants to ensure universities know more about the background of international students to address concerns about campus agitation [33][34] Student Aid and Education Value - The reconciliation bill may include changes to federal student aid, potentially capping loan amounts based on the chosen program [43] - The department is restructuring the FAFSA application to include information about potential earnings relative to degree programs and college costs [44][45] - The department aims to provide students with better tools to assess the value of education, considering alternatives like community college or skill-based education [48][49] Workforce Reduction - The department has reduced nearly half of its workforce and is providing support to help employees find new jobs [51][52][53] K12 Simplified Funding Grant - The administration has proposed consolidating 18 grants into a $2 billion K12 simplified funding grant to reduce regulatory burden [57][59][61] - States will determine how the money from the simplified funding program is spent, with less regulation [60][61] - The goal is to offset the net reduction in total funding by eliminating regulatory burden, as teachers spend 47 cents of every dollar on regulatory compliance [62][63] Title IX Compliance - The administration is focused on ensuring compliance with Title IX, particularly regarding men participating in women's sports [65] - The department is addressing violations of Title IX as they occur, rather than putting out a bullseye to find targets [66] Diversity and Ideology - The department raised concerns about the lack of ideological diversity at Harvard, where only 3% of professors are conservative [74] - The department is investigating whether a lack of ideological diversity is leading to unrest at some universities [75]