On February 11, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative. This order aims to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and implement new hiring practices.

Executive Order 14211 of February 12, 2025, One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations, declares that "Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation" of foreign service officers and calls for "foreign service reform" to also include revising or replacing the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM). This could impact the nature and number of staff at U.S. consulates and embassies and affect the FAM that has guided foreign service officers and the public for decades.

On February 5, 2025 USCIS announced that "the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary." H-1B cap-exempt employers such as institutions of higher education continue to be exempt from the requirement to pre-register potential H-1B beneficiaries.

Two federal district courts have issued preliminary injunctions blocking the January 20 presidential executive order that attempts to alter U.S. citizenship at birth.

On February 3rd, NAFSA joined the American Council on Education and 29 other higher education associations in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and addressing key priorities for higher education. The letter emphasized concerns about visa processing delays and denials that could discourage international students from choosing U.S. institutions, and   reiterated U.S. higher education’s commitment to collaborating on national security concerns while protecting beneficial global academic exchange.

On January 29, 2025 President Trump issued an executive order on "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism" on campuses.

News outlets reported that on Wednesday, January 29 Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of OMB, notified federal agencies that the January 27 OMB memo freezing Federal financial assistance programs has been rescinded.

On January 23, 2025, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman signed a "Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens," two days before Kristi Noem was sworn in as DHS Secretary. The finding activates enhanced federal authority and resources and presses for state and local cooperation. See NAFSA's page for links and a transcription of the finding.

On January 26, 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section, following Colombian President Petro's refusal to accept two repatriation flights unless the deported individuals are treated with the "dignity that a human being deserves." This is a situation in flux. The day following the visa issuance ban, news outlets began reporting that Colombia had agreed to receive the flights, and that the "suspension of visas would remain in effect until the first planeload of deportees is accepted."

On January 20, 2025 DHS rescinded a 2021 guidance memo that had required DHS officers and agents to seek headquarters approval before taking an enforcement action in protected areas like schools and colleges, hospitals or churches.