Dear Highline College Staff and Faculty,

Thursday, March 20th, President Trump issued an executive order named “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.” The executive order directs the Secretary of Education (in a section titled “Closing the Department of Education and Returning Authority to the States”) to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education” to the extent “permitted by law.” It is important to note that Congress holds the exclusive authority to abolish the Department of Education and eliminate its congressionally established statutory functions and responsibilities. In his remarks before signing the executive order, President Trump said that Title I, Pell Grants, “resources for students with special needs” and the other education funding responsibilities “are going to be preserved in full.”

The executive order also directs the Secretary of Education to ensure that federal funding is linked to compliance with federal efforts to “terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.” The language of the executive order is brief, vague, and does not direct that any immediate action be taken.

The President also announced Friday, March 21st, that he is moving federal student loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and shifting programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has joined the State of New York as a plaintiff in NY v. McMahon, which alleges, among other things, that efforts to dismantle the Department of Education violates congressional mandates and contravenes congressional intent. Like other executive orders, this latest directive to abolish the Department of Education lacks clarity and is certain to face legal challenges.

Potential impacts at Highline College of programs funded through DOE include

• TRiO
• Title III
• Perkins (Professional Technical)
• Pell Funding and Federally backed student loans
• BeDA Grants (Master Grant, Leadership Grant)
• ORIA

We are closely monitoring these developments, consulting with the Attorney General’s Office, and proactively evaluating potential scenarios to ensure we can continue our critical work while complying with state and federal laws. We understand that this uncertainty is both disruptive and concerning. We remain vigilant in tracking federal updates while staying committed to our core mission—providing diverse students and communities with exceptional and inclusive educational opportunities that transform lives. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.

At Highline College, we remain committed to our mission and support of our students. We operate in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and legislation that oversees higher education in the State of Washington.

We recognize that uncertainty may cause stress and anxiety. Your health and wellbeing are of the utmost importance. Please take care of yourself. We encourage you to utilize your access to the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support both you and your family.

If you have questions, concerns, or ideas please don’t hesitate to contact us. We want to hear from you! We have created an input form that can be used to share information as we continue to navigate this changing landscape together.

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER (JIC) INPUT FORM

In community,

Highline College Executive Cabinet and the Joint Information Center