Central Michigan University General Counsel John Danner said in a March 4 email statement that an executive order has the power to require agencies in the executive branch, such as the U.S. Department of Education, to take specific actions. Those actions can then impact K-12 schools and institutions of higher education, Danner said.

“At present, there has been no clear legal guidance provided to colleges and universities regarding specific actions they are required to take, to comply with existing executive orders,” Danner said. “It is too early to know what CMU will be asked to do.”

CMU President Neil MacKinnon and Provost Paula Lancaster have been communicating to the university community weekly through emails. As of March 7, they said they are closely monitoring the situation.

Federal funding and student aid

Danner said CMU receives federal funding in form of grants for research. If the executive order to cut research spendings moves forward, CMU’s research expenditures could be impacted, he said.

On March 4, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social that he will ban funding for schools that allow “illegal protests.” However, MacKinnon and Lancaster said in the email that there has not been a related government action, and it might be difficult to enforce because of the First Amendment.

Mark Hoover

People hold up signs to passing cars during the Stand Up for Science rally outside of the Bovee University Center, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Friday, March 7, 2025. Multiple cars honked while passing by to show support for the movement. (CM-Life | Mark Hoover)

On March 7, CMU science and education communities gathered for a Stand Up for Science rally that protested against federal employee firings and research cuts proposed in the executive orders.

Danner said on March 4 that the National Institutes of Health’s plan to cut grants for research executive order is also paused for judicial review.

Additionally, he said direct federal aid to students — such as Pell Grants, student loans and work-study — are specifically exempt from the impact of these orders.

Similarly, Danner said there has been nothing to suggest that there are plans to end the Free Applicaiton for Federal Student Aid, the form that allows institutions to determine a student’s eligibility for federal funds like grants, college work study and financial aid. CMU also continues to offer scholarships for international students, he said.

MacKinnon and Lancaster wrote in an email on March 7 that, “Right now, it appears that federal student aid will be safe for the upcoming academic year, as all reports seem to indicate it will be maintained, even if shifted to another agency for its continued administration.”

A week later, on March 14, U.S. Department of Education Undersecretary wrote in a letter to stakeholdres that employees working on the core functionso f FAFSA were not affected by sweeping layoffs at the department.

DEI efforts

Danner said there has not yet been an executive order that provides clear guidance on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts at college campuses as of March 4. The order called “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” focuses on federal agencies, not universities, he said.

On Feb. 14, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter, advising educational institutions to stop using race as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other institutional programming.

But Danner said the letter is not an executive order and does not carry the force of law. It also did not provide any specific legal guidance, he said.

MacKinnon and Lancaster also wrote in the email that the usage of the term DEI and observance of cultural, historical and heritage programs will not be a violation of the Department’s rules.

“To date, no specific guidance has been issued to colleges and universities on how to implement the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter,” they said. “As an institution, we take our core value of ‘inclusiveness’ seriously, and all university-sponsored events and activities, including celebrations of culture and heritage, are open to our full university community. It’s part of what makes this community so special.”