From major cuts to the Department of Education to the loss of government funding, the Trump Administration has dramatically reshaped the higher education landscape. What do these changes mean, and how are colleges and universities responding? In this special episode recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit, Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo examine the impact of the first 100 days of Trump’s second term.
The policy shifts are hitting institutions where it hurts most—financially. Department of Education cuts threaten the stability of federal student loans, while deportations are driving down international enrollment. Most notably, Trump has threatened to pull federal research funding from institutions accused of antisemitism. While these moves may seem extreme, Jeff argues that colleges have failed to prepare for leaner times, resulting in both weak internal cultures and declining public trust. As he puts it, “higher education is seen as just getting fat and happy on other people’s money.” To survive these changes, institutions must confront their cultural challenges.