The Collective Public Policy Voice of the Exchange Community

47th Presidential Administration

Keep up to date on the latest policy changes from the Trump-Vance Administration and the 119th Congress

The Latest

Daily updates on the legislation, policies, and regulations impacting international exchange programs.

 

 

Take Action

Watch this space for opportunities to show your support for international exchange programs.

  • Alliance Members: Register for Advocacy Day 2025
  • BridgeUSA Community Members: Join Americans for Cultural Exchange

Policy Priorities for the Administration

The Alliance recommends that the new Administration make international exchange programs a part of its policy priorities because of the transformative power of exchanges in advancing America’s economic and national security interests.   

Our policy priorities paper outlines its recommendations for the incoming Administration, focusing on five key areas of growth and collaboration.

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Executive and Regulatory Actions

Executive Order: Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling (1/29)
  • The What: This EO prioritizes patriotic education in k-12 schools that receive federal funding. 
  • The Impact: In section 5, it directs the Department of State through Fulbright, IVLP, the U.S. Speaker program, and American Spaces to support in promoting patriotic education through their exchange programs and activities. 
OMB Memorandum M-25-14: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (1/27/2025)
  • The What: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a two-page memo ordering a freeze of all agency grants, loans, or other financial assistance programs. OMB sent an 800+ page task spreadsheet to agencies to submit by Feb. 10 the details of all such grants. 
Executive Order: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing (1/20/2025)
  • The What: The EO calls for the “termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.” 
Executive Order: Protecting the United States for Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (1/20/2025)
  • The What: This EO calls for suspending admission from countries where “vetting and screening information is deficient”; and for an evaluation of all visa programs to ensure they aren’t being used by “hostile actors.”  
  • The Impact: This is widely perceived as a potential precursor to a travel ban. 
Executive Order: Protecting the American People Against Invasion (1/20/2025)
  • The What: This wide-ranging EO asserts that failure or delay by a country to accept individuals the U.S. seeks to deport could be met by “sanctions.”  
  • The Impact: This could include halting U.S. visa issuance for that country. 
Executive Order: Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (1/20/2025)
  • The What: This EO orders “a 90-day pause in United States foreign development assistance for assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy.” 
  • The Impact: Based on available information at this time, this does not apply to DOS Educational and Cultural Exchanges (ECE) funding, but does impact certain exchange programs funded by other sources, such as Embassies, USAID, and more. 
Memorandum: Regulatory Freeze Pending Review (1/20/2025)
  • The What: This memorandum states that agencies cannot “propose or issue any rule in any manner…until a department or agency head appointed or designated by the President…reviews and approves the rule.” 
  • The Impact: The Alliance reads this as no new regulatory actions will take place until an Assistant Secretary for ECA is confirmed. 

Congressional Action

Laken Riley Act
  • The What: The bill, which garnered significant bipartisan support, puts into statute the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport undocumented immigrants who have been accused or convicted of crimes.  
  • The Impact: The bill includes language that provides states the authority to sue the State Department to stop the issuance of visas to countries that are slow to, or do not accept, their nationals who the U.S. seeks to deport. 
  • The Latest: President Trump signed the act into law the afternoon of Wednesday, January 29. 
FY25 Funding
  • The Latest: FY25 funding has yet to be finalized with the federal government operating under a short-term Continuing Resolution until March 14.

Commentary and Analysis

Keep up to date on the latest policy and regulatory analysis from the Alliance team.

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