Colleges and universities have been central to the current administration’s enforcement agenda, and we expect this to continue in 2026. While the focus areas for the new administration—immigration, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”), and academic freedom in an era of increased protest activity—were largely expected, the tools the federal government used to enforce its policies were unconventional. The administration often pushed the boundaries of laws rarely invoked to enforce its priorities, a trend that will likely persist as we enter the next phase of the administration’s plans and as responsibilities within the executive branch continue to shift.

This alert summarizes the most notable enforcement mechanisms used this past year and provides a look forward at how these tools are likely to be used in 2026.