Federal Updates Under the New Administration

Since January 20, 2025, President Trump has implemented several executive orders and policy changes significantly impacting U.S. immigration. They include the “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” Executive Order, which declared the situation at the southern border an “invasion” under Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. It suspended the entry of individuals who are not documented and revoked several prior executive orders that had set civil immigration enforcement priorities and established frameworks for migration management. The administration has focused on restricting federal funding to jurisdictions, known as sanctuary cities, that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This approach has led to legal challenges from these jurisdictions, citing constitutional violations and public safety concerns.

Guidance for H-1B and J-1 Visa Holders

SDSU remains committed to the free exchange of ideas, which has been strengthened by the contributions of scholars, researchers and educators from around the world. Recent federal immigration enforcement activities have raised concerns within our community, which includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents and colleagues on H-1B and J-1 visas, among others. Immigration policies, practices, travel bans and health and safety risks are shifting daily and often cannot be fully assessed or projected in advance. 

Faculty, staff and students with H-1B or J-1 Visas are urged to carefully consider and assess the necessity of international travel, as well as potential impacts to travel plans, personal safety while abroad, and the ability to reenter the United States.  

In addition to the Federal Updates page, rely on the following for information, guidance and general FAQs for faculty, staff and students: 

• The CSU Federal Updates page
• Office of Faculty Advancement
• U.S. Department of State – Travel Advisories: Provides country-specific travel advisories (Levels 1–4), alerts, and safety information. Includes details on entry/exit requirements, health risks, crime, and civil unrest. Check the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time alerts and embassy assistance.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Guidance for travelers with immigration or visa concerns (especially re-entry policies) as well as digital privacy and what CBP can inspect (e.g., electronic devices).

Immigration Guidance and Steps for those with F-1 Visas

The university encourages students with F-1 visits to stay informed and to be proactive, and if students inquire about what they can do or go for support, please share the following:

•  No matter your immigration status, the U.S. Constitution guarantees you certain rights.
• Check your visa status regularly: Use your SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) account or consult with the International Students Center to confirm that your visa remains active and in good standing.
• Maintain full-time enrollment: This is a core requirement for staying in F-1 status.
• Keep your documents up to date: Ensure your I-20, passport, and visa are current and reflect your correct academic program and address.
  Carry supporting documentation: I-20, passport, visa, proof of enrollment and a letter of good standing from your academic department can help demonstrate your status.
• Stay calm if you come into contact with an immigration officer or other law enforcement officer. Additional information about your rights and what you can do is available online via the Red Card. 
• Contact SDSU teams, including the International Student Center or Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, if students have questions or need support. Other support teams are also available to help as needed.

Faculty, staff and students are urged to carefully evaluate the necessity of international travel due to evolving federal policies and unpredictable risks. While travel decisions are personal, extreme caution is advised as immigration policies, travel bans and health and safety concerns change rapidly and may be difficult to predict.

Before traveling for work, study, research, conferences, teaching or personal reasons, carefully assess potential challenges. Visa eligibility, border control measures, and country-specific restrictions can shift suddenly, affecting re-entry into the United States. Additionally, legal, geopolitical, security, and cybersecurity risks may impact travelers, particularly those conducting research or visiting high-risk regions.

For International Students 

International students who decide to travel either internationally or within the U.S. should consider carrying:

• Valid passport
• Valid F or J visa (Required)
• Valid travel signatures on your Form I-20/DS-2019 (Required)
• (For F-1 students) I-20 travel signature on page two that is less than 1 year old
• (For J -1 students) DS-2019 travel signature on page 1, bottom right corner, that is less than 6 months old
• Proof of connection to a CSU University (course registrations and transcript copies would be helpful)
• Evidence of funding

Concerns and Explanations 

The California State University system outlines a number of concerns and explanations related to travel: 

• Rapidly Changing Immigration Policies: Constant policy changes by the federal government (such as executive orders or Department of Homeland Security memos) could affect visa eligibility or re-entry requirements mid-trip, leaving travelers vulnerable to unexpected barriers.
• Citizenship Status and Border Control: Recently, there has been greater emphasis on stricter border control, which could lead to longer screening processes, device searches, or interviews, especially for travelers with certain nationalities or research interests. 
• Visas: Individuals holding visas (H-1B, F-1, J-1, O-1, etc.) may face increased scrutiny or delays when re-entering the U.S., particularly if they traveled to or transited through countries under heightened security or diplomatic strain with the U.S. Travelers seeking visa renewals may also experience longer processing times, resulting in delays in reentering the U.S. It is also important to note that visas are frequently tied to specific institutions or programs of study. Thus, any disruption in travel, employment or study can inadvertently impact legal status. 
• Country-Specific Bans and Restrictions: Travelers from certain countries could be affected by current or proposed travel bans or enhanced screening procedures, depending on national origin or prior travel history. A proposed 3-tier travel ban would suspend visas to 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea. Partial suspensions of student and tourist visas to Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan are also being considered. Finally, 26 additional countries, including Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan, are being considered for a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance. 
• Legal and Diplomatic Issues: Foreign laws often differ significantly from those in the United States, particularly regarding freedom of speech and expression, religious or political dissent, and data privacy. Violation(s) of these laws, intentional or not, may impact the ability to re-enter the United States.
• Geopolitics Tensions: Tensions and conflicts in some areas of the world, such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia or Africa, may increase risks of conflict, detainment, or restricted movement by foreign nationals, especially from Western countries.
• Security Risks: Some destinations may have increased threats of terrorism, civil unrest, or targeted violence, which can pose direct dangers to travelers.
• Cybersecurity Concerns: Traveling with research data or devices may make students and faculty vulnerable to surveillance or cyber espionage, especially in countries with aggressive data policies.
• Research Scrutiny: Faculty and students involved in sensitive research areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology or defense-related fields may face additional questions at the border.

To assess travel risks, consult with the following:

• U.S. Department of State – Travel Advisories: Provides country-specific travel advisories (Levels 1–4), alerts, and safety information. Includes details on entry/exit requirements, health risks, crime, and civil unrest. Check the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time alerts and embassy assistance.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Travelers’ Health: Offers country-specific health notices, required vaccinations, and COVID-19 guidance. Great for understanding current outbreaks or public health precautions abroad.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Guidance for travelers with immigration or visa concerns (especially re-entry policies) as well as digital privacy and what CBP can inspect (e.g., electronic devices).
• U.S. Embassy or Consulate Website for the Destination Country: Visit the embassy or consulate site for the country you will be visiting. Provides contact information and security updates for a specific country. Helpful in case of emergency or a lost passport. Often includes information on local law or customs that might affect travelers.
• Airline and Destination Country’s Official Immigration Website: For entry/exit requirements, visa status checks, COVID-19 restrictions and transit rules, check the individual sites for your airline and destination country. Some countries require health declarations or online registration in advance.

In January 2025, the Trump administration imposed a freeze on federal grants and loans, potentially affecting trillions of dollars in funding. This abrupt action led to widespread confusion and legal challenges, prompting a federal judge to temporarily block the freeze. 

Subsequently, the Office of Management and Budget rescinded the funding freeze order, though the executive orders targeting DEIA programs remained in effect.

The elimination of DEIA programs has faced opposition with several civil and human rights organizations, including the Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal, filing a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the executive orders violate free speech and due process rights. 

As of February 19, 2025, while the funding freeze has been lifted, the executive orders dismantling DEIA programs remain active, with ongoing legal challenges and widespread debate surrounding their implications.

Under the Trump administration, student aid and loan policy is shifting significantly after the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” in July 2025. Most existing income-driven repayment options like SAVE, REPAYE and PAYE will be phased out for new borrowers after mid-2026, replaced by a single “Repayment Assistance Plan.”

Graduate PLUS loans will end in 2026, and borrowing limits are tightening for graduate and parent loans. Protections like interest subsidies under SAVE are being eliminated, so unpaid interest will accrue again, and collections on defaulted loans – such as those paused during the COVID-19 pandemic – have restarted. At the same time, eligibility for some repayment plans is expanding as the requirement to show “partial financial hardship” has been removed. 

Together, these changes mark a major restructuring of how federal loans are borrowed and repaid, reducing some benefits while broadening access in other areas.

Students who have questions about federal aid and student loans should connect with the university’s Cal Coast Student Financial Center (CCSFC), which has team members available to support in person and online. The Financial Aid office provides information and counseling (via the CCSFC) to help students make informed choices as they plan for meeting the costs associated with attending SDSU. The CCSFC also provides outreach and access services in collaboration with other university departments and the community.

The Trump Administration’s decision to end federal funding for the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) grant program marks a significant policy shift with wide-reaching consequences for higher education. If you receive a stop work order or project-specific notice, immediately forward it to [email protected] and copy your grant specialist. If you anticipate that you may receive a stop work order or termination notice for specific funding, use the online form to prepare for a possible appeal in defense of your project.  

HSIs, such as nearly all campuses within the California State University (CSU) system, depend on this funding to provide essential academic resources, student support programs, and pathways for degree completion. By withdrawing support, the administration directly disrupts services that aid not only Hispanic students, who make up nearly half of CSU’s enrollment, but also students from all backgrounds who benefit from the program’s focus on equity and inclusion.

This action has sparked concern because the HSI program has historically been a crucial tool for advancing social mobility and bridging opportunity gaps for first-generation and low-income students. Cutting the funding undermines the federal government’s role in fostering educational access for underrepresented communities, particularly in states like California where Hispanic populations are large and growing.
 
CSU leaders argue that this decision will cause immediate harm by stripping students of critical support systems, jeopardizing their ability to succeed academically and graduate on time. More broadly, critics view the move as a step backward in promoting diversity, equity and inclusive excellence within higher education nationwide.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, also known as indirect costs, are expenses that universities incur to support the research infrastructure and operational expenses necessary to conduct federally-funded research. These expenses include grants administration, certain equipment and utilities, research facilities and laboratories, and other costs including those needed to comply with federal regulations. Universities pay these expenses as they conduct federally sponsored research, and the government then partially reimburses allowable costs through a cost rate agreement using established, uniform, predetermined rates. Many universities currently negotiate these indirect cost recovery rates at 50% or higher, including SDSU, through regular recalculation and review with federal agencies. 

See the following for more information:

• Council on Governmental Relations Cost Reimbursement Materials and Resources
• Council on Governmental Relations Understanding the Real Costs of Research
• American Association of Universities Costs of Research overview and Facilities and Administrative Costs FAQs

Throughout the spring of 2025, federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and Department of Defense each announced that they would implement a standard indirect cost rate of 15%. Each of these have been met with separate lawsuits in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts where federal judges have variously issued injunctions and restraining orders against implementation of these rate cap policies.

See the following for more information:

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities maintains web pages with updates on these cases in which it is a plaintiff: National Institutes for Health, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation.

The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), along with several other higher education associations, organized a Joint Effort to Develop a New Indirect Costs Model with a “team of individuals with deep knowledge of direct and indirect costs, the current facilities and administrative (F&A) cost structure, university finance, grant administration, regulatory compliance, research project leadership and other related matters with the goal of submitting to the Federal government a new model, developed with full engagement of the research community.” The Joint Associations Group (JAG) on Indirect Costs has presented a new Financial Accountability in Research (FAIR) model as a potential replacement for the current indirect cost rates reimbursement model that has been challenged by federal agencies and released a statement to urge policy makers to embrace and codify the new FAIR model.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) continues to update a page with information regarding recent executive orders and their impact on the NSF community. New FAQs were added regarding proposal revisions and REU Sites. Researchers with NSF funding are encouraged to review these and other FAQs on the site. 

To SDSU researchers: If you receive a termination notice, stop-work order, or other project-specific notice, immediately forward it to [email protected] and copy your grant specialist.  If you anticipate that you may receive a stop work order or termination notice for specific funding, use the online form to prepare for a possible appeal in defense of your project. 

If you need to revise a proposal, contact your development specialist immediately.

In January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders terminating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs within the federal government and prohibiting federal contractors from implementing such initiatives. These orders mandated the suspension and eventual termination of all federal DEIA staff and directed agencies to eliminate DEIA-related programs.

On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a "Dear Colleague" letter mandating that educational institutions eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within 14 days of the letter to maintain federal funding. This directive interprets the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard as prohibiting race-based considerations in all aspects of academic programming, extending beyond admissions to areas such as student support services and faculty hiring practices.

For decades, state and federal courts have consistently recognized that lawfully crafted DEIA policies and programs do not amount to impermissible discrimination. Recent federal executive orders (which are not law) conflate valid and legal programs and practices supporting DEIA with unlawful preferences and discrimination. The California State University system, of which San Diego State University is part, is in one of the best positions among K-12 and higher education institutions nationally given existing compliance with Proposition 209. Proposition 209 was a California ballot measure passed in 1996 that amended the state constitution to prohibit public institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity in public employment, education, and contracting. It effectively banned affirmative action policies in public universities, government hiring, and state-funded programs. SDSU and our programs have been in compliance with this state law since it was enacted. 

Since receiving the Feb. 14 letter, San Diego State University has begun a review of its existing programs and web properties to ensure ongoing compliance with Proposition 209 is stated clearly. 

At SDSU, we strongly affirm our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, which remains fully compliant with federal and state laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, and California’s Proposition 209. For almost 30 years, Proposition 209 (California Constitution, Article I, Section 31) has prohibited preferential treatment based on race or gender in public education but allows outreach and support programs that do not create racial preferences, but do support our diverse community. Faculty and staff should continue fostering an inclusive learning environment in compliance with university policies and the law.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that all students and employees have access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.

Nationwide, implementation of orders related to DEIA have advanced, but legal challenges have slowed or blocked some provisions. Federal courts have issued temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, particularly against EO 14173’s requirement that contractors and grantees certify they do not operate “illegal” DEI programs. In Chicago Women in Trades v. Trump, the Northern District of Illinois enjoined enforcement of those certification rules. A Maryland court initially halted broader provisions nationwide, but the Fourth Circuit later lifted that injunction. Meanwhile, in National Urban League v. Trump, a D.C. judge declined to block the orders, leaving much of the policy intact.

As of September 2025, many federal DEIA offices have been closed, but the full scope of program terminations and contractor obligations remains unsettled. Courts are weighing arguments over vagueness, free speech and due process, leaving employers, grantees and agencies in a period of legal uncertainty while appeals continue.