This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on September 10, 2025.

Aloha 东精影业 ʻohana,

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) today announced it will , including those for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiʻi (ANNH) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving-Institutions (AANAPISI), because they tie eligibility to race/ethnicity quotas. The USDOE also indicated that mandatory MSI funds appropriated by Congress will continue for now, while longer-term legal questions are reviewed.

This is a deeply concerning development raising important questions for all 10 campuses. It will affect all of our students, the programs that support them and the dedicated staff who carry out this work. Today鈥檚 announcement in no way diminishes the value or importance of that work. Like many in the 东精影业 ʻohana, I am deeply saddened by this development.

We are actively assessing the impact on each 东精影业 campus and program, and we will share campus-specific details as soon as they are available.

What we can say today:

• Discretionary ANNH and AANAPISI grants are ending in FY25 (September 30). This termination will affect students and programs across the system and positions funded by these grants.
• Congressionally mandated ANNH and AANAPISI funds will continue but their long-term status is uncertain.
• Institutional funds are limited and will be prioritized to provide mission-critical and short-term bridge support.

To our community, we say unequivocally that 东精影业 remains committed to the care and success of every student and the preservation and advancement of Hawaiʻian ʻike (knowledge) and ʻ艒lelo (language). It is central to our mission as a Native Hawaiian place of learning and an Indigenous-serving institution, as articulated in our system and campus strategic plans.

We are united in our determination to meet the demands of this moment and continue to serve our students and our community. We will find a way to work within any new framework created and partner with our campus stakeholders, congressional delegation and state leaders to address this latest challenge.

In the days ahead, campus leaders will identify programs that have been terminated or are at risk and implement contingency plans to sustain high-priority student services. We will provide regular updates to students, faculty and staff as more information becomes available and as federal guidance evolves. Specific questions from program leads should be directed to your campus leadership.

Mahalo for your patience and partnership as we work through this dramatic change in federal policy. Our shared kuleana to support all students and communities and to steward ʻike Hawaiʻi remains steadfast.

Me ke aloha,
Wendy Hensel
东精影业 President

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on July 21, 2025.

Aloha 东精影业 ʻohana,

I write to share important updates from Washington, D.C. that are expected to affect our campuses and higher education nationwide.

On July 4, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a reconciliation package passed by Congress that makes certain tax and spending changes, some of which are permanent.

Separately, Congress is reviewing the President鈥檚 proposed federal budget for the fiscal year that begins on October 1. Unlike a single reconciliation package, this process is more complex, requiring passing 12 individual appropriations bills to fund government operations.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

As I briefed the Board of Regents earlier this month, some of the key provisions in the new law that will impact higher education, many of which will go into effect on July 1, 2026, include:

• Students receiving non-federal scholarships covering their full cost of attendance will lose Pell eligibility for that term, which will still count toward their 12-semester Pell limit. We are evaluating how this affects our program.
• Colleges will be held accountable for graduates鈥� earnings. Programs with graduates earning less than the average high school graduate could lose eligibility for federal student loans.
• Grad PLUS loans are eliminated, and Parent PLUS loans are capped at $65,000 per student, which may reduce graduate enrollment and disproportionately affect historically underrepresented groups.
• New annual loan caps of $20,500 for graduate students and $50,000 for professional students may fall below the full cost of attendance, limiting access to advanced degrees.
• Future borrowers will have only two repayment plan options, which may lead students increasingly toward private loans.

There is also the possibility that the new law could reduce state funding for higher education if states shift resources to offset federal cuts to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The full impact of these changes remains to be seen along with the impact on our students and their families who rely on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

On a positive note, the final law did not include some of the most concerning proposed changes, such as eliminating Pell Grants for less-than-half-time students, reducing awards for students taking less than 15 credits, or ending subsidized undergraduate loans. It also expands Pell eligibility to qualifying short-term programs of 150–600 hours over 8–15 weeks.

More extensive analyses are available from the (APLU) and the (NASFA).

Federal guidance is expected in the coming months. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education issued a “” outlining how some of the higher education provisions of the Big Beautiful Act will be implemented.

Proposed Federal Budget

The President鈥檚 proposed FY 2026 budget under review includes significant cuts to research funding:

• National Science Foundation: 55% proposed cut ($9B to ~$4B)
• National Institute for Health: 40% proposed cut ($47B to ~$27B)
• Dept. Of Energy Office of Science: 14% proposed cut ($8.2B to ~$7.1B)
• NASA Science: 48% proposed cut ($7.5B to ~$3.9B)
• NOAA: 26% proposed cut ($6.1B to ~$4.5B)

The federal budget process is far from complete, and as with Pell and the One Big Beautiful Bill, proposals often change before final approval. Congress has not passed all 12 appropriations bills on time since 1996, relying instead on continuing resolutions or omnibus bills each year. Although the outcome remains uncertain, first indications from mark ups of several appropriations bills suggest that Congress has taken a different approach to the President鈥檚 Budget. Both House and Senate appropriators have restored or slightly reduced the budget of several agencies including, NSF, NOAA and NASA to federal Fiscal Year 2025.

We are also monitoring the administration鈥檚 proposed 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursements for research grants, which would significantly reduce funding from current rates of 40鈥�55%. The Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs representing major industry organizations, such as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the American Council on Education, is currently engaged with the federal government to establish a more efficient and fair model for indirect cost reimbursements. This proposal is still under negotiation.

Supreme Court allows federal worker layoffs

A recent Supreme Court ruling could also have significant implications for higher education. The court lifted a lower-court injunction, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with mass federal worker layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education under an , without ruling on their ultimate legality. This expansion of presidential authority over federal employment could disrupt essential services such as student aid, research oversight, and agency support if key personnel are displaced.

Looking Ahead

We continue to work closely with Hawaiʻi鈥檚 congressional delegation, Gov. Green, the Legislature, the state attorney general, and national higher education associations to advocate for 东精影业 and higher education. I remain in regular consultation with the 东精影业 Presidential Advisory Council on Federal Policy and our leadership teams to guide our response and plan for potential budget impacts.

I will keep you updated as new developments emerge.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi

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The 鈥檚 nearly 20-year involvement in a national effort to support underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has come to an end, following the termination of federal funding for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.

Since 2006, 东精影业 Hilo has led the Islands of Opportunity Alliance, using LSAMP support to provide mentorship, research stipends and academic pathways for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and first-generation college students.

Over the years, LSAMP empowered nearly 400 东精影业 Hilo students鈥攁nd more than 1,300 across the region鈥攖hrough transformative experiences that propelled many into graduate programs and leadership positions in Hawaiʻi‘s STEM workforce. Until its recent termination, the grant also supported students at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, 东精影业 West Oʻahu, Chaminade, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, the University of Guam and numerous community colleges throughout the Pacific.

“LSAMP helped me connect my cultural identity to scientific research,” said Shania Tamagyongfal, a Yapese student who earned both her undergraduate degree in anthropology and master鈥檚 in heritage management at 东精影业 Hilo. “It gave me the confidence to lead, collaborate, and pursue work that matters to my community. Losing this program is a real setback for students like me.”

Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin noted that LSAMP “embodied our commitment to creating pathways for historically underserved students in higher education. It not only supported academic success but also helped our students see themselves as scientists, researchers and leaders. Its legacy will remain part of how we move forward.”

Keaholoa STEM Scholars Program also impacted

The termination also affects the Keaholoa STEM Scholars Program, a 东精影业 Hilo initiative that blends Hawaiian values with scientific education, offering students a culturally grounded space to explore STEM.

“Programs like Keaholoa and LSAMP help our students see that science can reflect their culture, language and values,” said Keaholoa Program Manager Keala Campbell. “That connection empowers them, not just to succeed academically, but to lead in ways that honor who they are. We鈥檙e committed to finding ways to keep that momentum going.”

Next steps

东精影业 Hilo leadership remains committed to building on the foundation LSAMP and Keaholoa established鈥攆inding new ways to support students, advance equity in STEM, and honor the programs鈥� enduring impact.

“The community we鈥檝e built around these programs is strong,” said LSAMP Program Director Joseph Genz, “and we鈥檙e doing everything we can to keep that momentum going.”

‘Not in alignment with current NSF Priorities’

On May 2, 2025, 东精影业 Hilo received official notice from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that LSAMP funding would be terminated, effective immediately, representing a loss of nearly $2.3 million in support over the next five years. The NSF offered the following justification for its decision: “termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF Priorities.”

LSAMP joins a growing list of federally funded programs across the 东精影业 system affected by evolving national grant priorities—more than 80 programs have been impacted to date.

A program at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 that supported dozens of career development activities for women in geosciences and community outreach was terminated by the loss of federal funding.

In April, Barbara Bruno, project lead and faculty member at the in the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST), was given a termination notice with instructions to immediately close operations on the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded program. About two-thirds of the nearly $200,000 budget was forfeited when the grant was terminated.

“SOEST is Hawaiʻi鈥檚 largest producer of geoscience graduates—alumni who go on to monitor volcanic hazards, predict extreme weather, conduct assessments of environmental impacts, ensure sustainable use of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 freshwater resources, and more,” said Bruno. “I think the biggest impact of this termination is the loss of professional development opportunities for women. STEM is hemorrhaging women鈥攚e need programs to keep them.”

The NSF award supported a mini-grant program, , that funded geoscience workforce development in two ways: outreach and community engagement to attract the next generation of STEM professionals; and professional development for current SOEST students and early career scientists.

Loss of career development and outreach opportunities

Through the mini-grants program, female students, post-doctoral researchers, staff and faculty submitted applications to secure funding to attend professional meetings, technical or career development workshops; or engage in field work or research collaborations. For example, this project supported activities of a co-writing group for women in SOEST and multiple student-oriented groups focused on diversity, equity and inclusion within 东精影业.

The federal funding cut also resulted in terminating two months of Bruno鈥檚 salary and several mini-grants that were in process. Funding was pulled from a Palauan graduate student who is pursuing her doctoral degree in the Marine Biology Graduate Program and studying the unique and diverse coral communities of Ngermid Bay in the Republic of Palau.

The successfully completed outreach and community engagement efforts supported by this program include training for ; and workshops, hands-on activities, and presentations to community members and middle and high school students that focused on and .

“We were also actively soliciting applications for the next round of CASA funding when we received the termination notice,” said Bruno. “Ending this grant eliminates the support for future professional development opportunities and K–12 and community engagement.”

Next steps

On May 28, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez and 15 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop illegal attempts to cut critical NSF programs and funding that help maintain the U.S.鈥� position as a global leader in STEM. Bruno submitted a declaration in support of this federal lawsuit, attesting to the adverse impacts of the sudden termination of her NSF grant. Bruno is actively pursuing alternative funding sources to support these initiatives.

Severe budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration to NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are raising major concerns within Hawaiʻi鈥檚 astronomy community. Aside from the potential loss of federal funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope, funding reductions could also have wide-ranging implications for the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (IfA), its research and its students. IfA is a globally renowned research center and home to one of the world鈥檚 largest university-based astronomy programs, with observatories on Maunakea and Haleakal膩 that have helped make some of the most remarkable cosmic discoveries ranging from exoplanets to distant galactic phenomena.

东精影业 News sat down with IfA Director Doug Simons to discuss how the proposed cuts may affect Hawaiʻi鈥檚 standing in the global astronomy community.

What鈥檚 at stake moving forward?

Simons: The proposed fiscal year 2026 budgets at NASA and NSF have been cut severely and pretty much uniformly. Almost half of the Science Mission Directorate鈥檚 budget at NASA has been cut, and a comparable 50% or so has been cut at NSF. So for astronomy here in Hawaiʻi, there are a number of facilities that are directly impacted, including 17% cut from the W.M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea and 39% cut in the U.S. portion of the Gemini International observatory. We’re also looking at the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) no longer being funded through the construction queue at NSF as part of this whole process.

What impact could these cuts have on grad students and research efforts at IfA?

Simons: Yes, a large fraction of our graduate program is sponsored by NASA and NSF, so our education program is definitely put at risk by these proposed cuts. The related threat of reduced numbers of observatories means that our research program at IfA is also at risk. It鈥檚 important to realize that a large fraction of observing time at IfA goes to our graduate students and programs involving undergraduates, giving them unique research opportunities compared to most other astronomy graduate programs. So again, I have a lot of concern near and long term about the impacts of these cuts to our research and education program, and associated knock-on effects.

What would the cuts mean for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) on Haleakal膩, and its role in training 东精影业 astronomy students?

Simons: I’m very concerned about DKIST. They also have a proposed 40% cut, and that’s a brand new, $350+ million state-of-the-art solar telescope, the best ever built, that鈥檚 just out of the “starting blocks.” I honestly don’t know what problem is solved by massive cuts to a brand new observatory like DKIST.

Would you say Hawaiʻi is a global leader in astronomy?

Simons: Hawaiʻi astronomy is number one in the world in terms of science output, and that is absolutely at risk with deep cuts proposed in the NASA and NSF programs. Much of the U.S. northern hemisphere ground based astronomy program is in Hawaiʻi, so those cuts go right to the core of U.S. astronomy research. There are also proposed cuts in Federal research facilities in Chile, so the net effect, if we do not turn this around, will be widespread and lasting. It takes a long time to design, build, fund and operate these observatories and a large part of 21st century astronomy leadership will likely go to Europe/Asia, where budgets for astronomy research remain supportive.

If these cuts move forward, what impact could it have on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy, considering astronomy provides local jobs and brings in significant funding?

Simons: The latest (2019) estimate is astronomy provides about $220 million of economic impact statewide, with about half of that on Hawaiʻi Island. Nearly 600 people are employed by the Maunakea Observatories, making Maunakea astronomy one of the largest providers of good-paying STEM jobs on the island. The combined operating budgets for the Maunakea Observatories is $70 million – $80 million annually, with most of those funds being directly injected into the local economy through the salaries of observatory staff. More than $2 million is invested annually by the Maunakea Observatories in education and outreach programs across Hawaiʻi Island. Over a hundred companies help support Hawaiʻi observatories, diversifying economic benefits across a wide range of contractors and professionals. The total number of people directly employed by astronomy is closer to 1,000 including Maui and Oʻahu, where similar economic “multipliers” occur.

东精影业-operated telescopes in partnership with NASA play a leading role in spotting potentially dangerous asteroids. What does the funding picture currently look like for 东精影业鈥檚 planetary defense work?

Simons: I was relieved to see that NASA retained its planetary defense program as a high priority. For IfA, that secures the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Maunakea, PanSTARRS, which includes a pair of telescopes on Haleakal膩, and ATLAS. There are now five ATLAS telescopes worldwide, which basically serve as the last stand, if you will, for detecting potential earth impactors. That’s a total of eight telescopes IfA owns/operates that could have been lost had NASA decided that the planetary defense program was not a priority. I’m pleased to say that amongst everything else going on, that survived.

How do you feel about the direction these proposed cuts are taking, especially given your decades of experience in Hawaiʻi astronomy?

Simons: It is extremely disappointing, particularly because I’ve watched the evolution of Hawaiʻi astronomy throughout most of my career, and the net effect of these recent decisions, which again are completely self-inflicted, is to diminish our ability to answer some of the most fundamental questions in science. It doesn’t have to be that way. We are decisions away from being able to stop this, but if we don’t, we’re looking at widespread damage to long-standing investments of broad state, national and international benefit.

A vital part of Hawaiʻi驶s safety net for financially struggling families and k奴puna is threatened by federal budget cuts, potentially leading to many more people going hungry and eroding the health of communities.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 SNAP-Ed program, run by the (CTAHR), is one of the federally funded initiatives on the chopping block in the U.S. Congress.

For years, SNAP-Ed has played a key role in teaching ʻohana how to prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals, helping to fight hunger and support community well-being across the state.

“Our college has been working with local families and k奴puna (elders) through SNAP-Ed for more than 20 years,” said Jean Butel, SNAP-Ed program director at CTAHR. “Our SNAP-Ed program has become a trusted community partner that helps about 15,000 community members across Hawaiʻi every year. We meet people where they are: public schools, farmer鈥檚 markets, senior care facilities and other community gathering places.”

Funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP-Ed teaches eligible ʻohana how to plan meals, stretch their food dollars, compare prices, and even grow their own vegetables.

Program success

Data highlights the program’s effectiveness with CTAHR鈥檚 direct education classes:

• 91% of participants improved their diet.
• 83% learned to budget, compare prices and plan meals.
• 40% reported they could afford more food or had enough for the family.

CTAHR and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health manage SNAP-Ed programs with a combined $1.57-million budget for this year. However, SNAP-Ed has been eliminated from the federal budget being debated by Congress, putting the future of the program at risk in Hawaiʻi and nationally.

“We are grateful that Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Congressional delegation fully supports SNAP-Ed. With our geographic isolation, high cost of living, and ongoing food insecurity, full funding is essential for Congress to continue supporting Hawaiʻi鈥檚 SNAP-Ed families and k奴puna,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal.

If Congress does not restore funding, the program will end on September 30. Supporters say that cutting SNAP-Ed programming could hurt ʻohana already struggling with food insecurity.

A recent round of federal funding cuts included the termination of a $3 million grant from the Office of Naval Research to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. The grant, awarded to Chip Fletcher, interim dean of the (SOEST), supported the (CRC), which provided data and high-resolution modeling of sea level rise impacts, heat exposure and precipitation extremes—critical tools that inform decisions made by state and county agencies, urban planners, infrastructure designers, and emergency managers.

“The loss of federal funding for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate and sea level rise research will have devastating consequences for the state鈥檚 ability to plan, adapt and protect its people and resources,” said Fletcher.

“The models we develop and their supporting databases underpin key pieces of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate legislation and coastal permitting regulations, including assessments of flood risk, groundwater inundation, coastal erosion, coastal construction setbacks and public safety. Without sustained federal investment, Hawaiʻi will lose its capacity to provide accurate climate projections tailored to island topography, severely hampering our preparedness for compound hazards such as king tides, rain-at-high-tide flooding and storm-driven flooding.”

CRC employed 15 people, including graduate students, climate researchers, policy experts and geospatial analysts. To prepare for and adapt to the growing threats related to climate change in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, this team gathered data and developed new modeling tools that reduce vulnerabilities to community and infrastructure on the island of Oʻahu.

Specifically, the CRC team has been modeling the impacts of sea level rise including flooding, coastal erosion, drainage failure, wave impacts at higher sea level and groundwater pollution with higher sea level.

Data guides land management, policies

Various state laws and policies rely on CRC data and models: construction setbacks on Maui, Kauaʻi, and Honolulu; mandatory disclosure of sea level rise impacts in real estate transactions; Special Management Area designations on Maui and Oʻahu; Kauai County sea level rise constraint district; and the required analysis of sea level rise impacts in state Environmental Policy Act, including environmental impact statements and environmental assessment permits.

“The loss of these data systems will undermine the scientific foundation of climate resilience policies, stall progress on community adaptation, and increase the vulnerability of coastal populations, public infrastructure, and cultural heritage,” Fletcher emphasized. “Maintaining federal support is not just about sustaining science—it is about safeguarding Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

A three-year effort to support Pacific Island communities with climate data for resilience planning has been upended by the termination of a grant overseen by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 .

The grant was terminated on May 15, with about $175,000 of the original $456,000 remaining unspent. It funded two primary objectives: providing climate and weather research to Pacific Island communities, and integrating the results and data into a web-based dashboard, maintained by , an affiliate at the . Initial integration into the dashboards had begun when the grant was ended.

The project was part of a collaboration with NOAA and other local partners in the Island-Led Resilience 2030 initiative, which is an extension of a broader United Nations鈥� effort to implement sustainable development goals through place-based action.

“The idea was that my team would provide the science behind some of the issues surrounding climate change,” said James Potemra, the project鈥檚 principal investigator. “Then, Hawaiʻi Green Growth would add this to the sustainability development goal dashboards.”

Impact on Hawaiʻi and the Pacific

Potemra and his team conducted scientific studies into the environment and climate of the Pacific and provided their findings to stakeholders, such as local governments, for further action.

The project aimed to expand research to Pacific Islands beyond Hawaiʻi, starting with the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The funding cancellation put an end to the team鈥檚 climate research and forced them to pull out of their international partnerships.

“We spent a lot of time going out to Palau, and we were promoting what we were doing,” Potemra said. “Now, unfortunately, we have to say, thanks for giving us the input, but we can’t do anything anymore.”

Future steps

In an effort to avoid any major staffing changes, Potemra said he is leveraging other SOEST grants to fund the three staff members that were working on Pacific climate research before the grant was terminated.

Potemra also said he is looking into alternative funding sources, such as the United Nations鈥� , to continue his work in the Pacific.

“The hope is the UN will renew that to address another group of islands,” Potemra said. “And if that’s true, then we’ll be very aggressive about getting more funding and going to different places out in the Pacific.”

Still, Potemra acknowledged that finding a full funding replacement is a challenge.

“It’s really a herculean task at this point,” he said.

Read more on 东精影业鈥檚 response to federal policy changes.

— By Grant Nakasone

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel met with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on May 28, at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 to discuss escalating threats from recent policy changes under the new federal administration.

“We discussed the challenges of research funding, student aid and the work we need to do together to make sure we continue to move the university forward in these changing moments,” said Hensel. “I appreciate his partnership and look forward to working in the days ahead.”

Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, met with Hensel and senior 东精影业 leadership to assess the impact of the termination of millions of dollars in federal research grants. The cuts from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services and Education—have disrupted critical research programs and forced the university to adjust its operations and future planning.

“Hawaiʻi鈥檚 public universities are doing everything right, enrolling more students, investing in innovation and staying focused on local needs, but Trump鈥檚 political decisions are putting all of that at risk,” said Schatz. “We鈥檒l keep fighting to protect our campuses, students and the future they鈥檙e working so hard to build.”

In a separate virtual meeting, Schatz spoke with chancellors and provosts from across the 10-campus 东精影业 System. Campus leaders shared growing concerns about reduced federal funding, student financial aid cuts and increasingly aggressive visa enforcement actions that are putting international students at risk of deportation.

Hensel emphasized the importance of continuing to work closely with Hawaiʻi鈥檚 congressional delegation to ensure 东精影业 remains strong and resilient in the face of ongoing federal challenges.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on May 22, 2025.

Aloha 东精影业 ʻohana,

Congratulations to all on a successful spring semester. I hope everyone finds time to rest and recharge in the days ahead.

Unfortunately, we continue to see federal policy changes, and I write today with new developments since my last update in the May 17 report to the Board of Regents.

Grant terminations

As of May 21, 80 federally funded grants across 东精影业 have been affected by terminations, stop-work orders or drawdowns. This includes 69 outright terminations, representing approximately $83.4 million funding and impacting more than 90 employees. As expected, the number and scale of terminations is accelerating and will undoubtedly take a significant toll on the university.

New DOJ “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” targets DEI

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of the , which will investigate federally funded universities suspected of violating civil rights laws under the False Claims Act. According to the DOJ, this includes institutions with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies it considers “divisive,” as well as those allegedly tolerating antisemitism. Schools found in violation could face the loss of federal funding, civil penalties and, in extreme cases, criminal prosecution of responsible officials.

This marks another serious escalation in federal scrutiny of DEI programs and civil rights compliance in higher education. While we believe 东精影业 policies are compliant with federal law, we will continue to review our practices to ensure that they remain aligned with evolving guidance and enforcement priorities. We remain committed to providing a learning environment and workplace that is respectful and where all are welcome.

Visa enforcement

We are also monitoring reports of possible deportation threats for international students participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program that have failed to keep their SEVIS records up to date by reporting their employment within the required time. Students whose records are not up to date have been issued 15-day notices warning of possible removal proceedings if they do not update their records.

We continue to work with our international students to urge compliance and to protect their legal status. OPT participants should ensure their record is up to date and contact their international student office with any questions or concerns. The list of contacts, available resources and FAQs are available on our Federal Policy Updates and Resources website.

In a related and deeply concerning move, the Trump administration today revoked Harvard University鈥檚 ability to enroll international students—an unprecedented escalation in its ongoing conflict with the institution that is reverberating across higher education.

Positive research funding developments

In more encouraging news, today, a federal judge in Massachusetts has preliminarily enjoined the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, ordering the reinstatement of employees whose employment was terminated on or after January 20, 2025, as part of the reduction-in-force announced in March. 东精影业 assisted the State Attorney General驶s office in obtaining this ruling, which is being appealed by the Trump Administration.

A different federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 attempt to cap indirect research cost reimbursements at 15%. This is a win (at least temporarily) for higher education institutions like 东精影业, where indirect costs—typically reimbursed at about 50%—help fund essential infrastructure, staffing, utilities and compliance.

The ruling follows a similar decision blocking the NIH鈥檚 proposed cap and strengthens ongoing legal challenges to other federal efforts to limit indirect cost recovery including the National Science Foundation鈥檚 (NSF) recently proposed 15% cap. The NSF announced on Monday that it is pausing implementation of the cap until June 13, when a federal district court is scheduled to hear arguments in a case challenging the proposal.

Finally, the University has been notified this week of two grants being reinstated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services because of the entered in federal court on May 13, 2025. Once again, this was due in no small part to the good work of the AG assisted by 东精影业.

Temporary suspension of salary compensation adjustments

In response to the ongoing federal funding uncertainty, we are implementing a temporary suspension of all Faculty Special Salary Adjustments (SSAs) for merit, equity and market that have not been approved by May 23, 2025. Exceptions will be considered only for retention purposes. Additionally, APT Special Compensation Performance Awards will not be authorized at this time. More information can be found in my May 22 message announcing this step.

This is the latest financial contingency action taken since we announced hiring restrictions, travel limitations and heightened review of contracts in April. These steps, while difficult, are necessary to maintain the university鈥檚 financial stability as we navigate this rapidly evolving environment.

Moving forward

We continue to work closely with national higher education organizations, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 congressional delegation, Gov. Green, the State attorney general and our own Presidential Advisory Council on Federal Policy and leadership teams to respond to these challenges.

I will continue to keep you informed on any new developments.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi

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