College Clashes, Visa Crackdowns and Phone Bans: The Biggest Education Stories of 2025

Education policy dominated national headlines in 2025 as the Trump administration pursued an aggressive agenda reshaping higher education funding, immigration rules for international students, student loan repayment, and the structure of the federal Education Department. K–12 districts also grappled with declining literacy and a surge in classroom cell-phone restrictions.

Federal Funding and University Settlements

One of the administration’s most far-reaching moves was cutting federal research funding to several universities and conditioning any restoration of funds on institutional reforms. Officials frequently cited concerns about campus antisemitism, while many observers noted that demanded changes often aligned with conservative priorities, including scaling back some diversity initiatives.

Columbia University was an early, high-profile example: the school lost roughly $400 million in federal support before agreeing to a settlement that included a $200 million payment and changes to disciplinary policies, hiring practices and academic departments. "It was a comprehensive agreement that we were able to reach with Columbia, and it is our hope that this is going to be a template for other universities around the country," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said when the deal was announced.

Other institutions faced varying levels of pressure and negotiation. The University of Virginia reportedly resisted efforts to remove its then-president and reached an agreement that involved institutional reforms and limited federal access to admissions data but no financial penalty. Talks with Harvard have been protracted, with some reports suggesting discussions of a large settlement; Harvard has declined to comment publicly on those reports.

Immigration Enforcement and International Students

An unexpected and forceful crackdown on international students—many linked to pro-Palestinian campus activism—marked another front of policy change. Several students were detained and placed in deportation proceedings under a rarely used provision that the administration said allowed the secretary of state to order their removal on national-security or foreign-policy grounds. Some remain in court challenges; others have been released.

The most prominent case involved Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia student and encampment leader, who was detained and missed the birth of his first child while in custody. The administration also introduced stricter visa-screening measures for foreign students, including social-media checks during the application process, which international educators say has chilled interest in studying in the U.S. and contributed to declining attendance in some K–12 districts with large immigrant populations.

Student Loans and Repayment Changes

The federal approach to student debt shifted sharply. The administration announced the end of the SAVE (Saving on Valuable Education) income-driven repayment plan, a change that will likely raise monthly payments for roughly 7 million borrowers who must move to other repayment options. Officials framed the move as rolling back policies they described as unfair to taxpayers, while critics said it would increase financial strain on many borrowers.

Legislation promoted by Republicans will shrink the menu of repayment plans to two options by 2028: a standard plan designed to pay loans off in roughly 10–25 years and a Repayment Assistance Plan that delays forgiveness until after about 30 years of payments. The administration also signaled it may narrow the list of employers eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), potentially affecting workers who had planned on those benefits.

K–12 Reading Scores and Literacy Concerns

Academic performance, especially in reading, remained a major concern. The Nation’s Report Card showed further declines in fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores from 2022, and 12th-grade reading scores fell to their lowest levels since before 1992. Advocates called the results "heartbreaking and tragic," urging a coordinated response from schools, states and private partners.

Some states have responded by shifting instruction toward the "science of reading," a research-backed approach credited with gains in places such as Louisiana. Experts warn the reading decline is not only an educational problem but an economic one: a 2020 Gallup study estimated low literacy cost the U.S. economy trillions annually, a burden that could grow if trends continue.

Classroom Cell-Phone Bans

Restrictions on student phone use spread rapidly in 2025. Nearly half of U.S. states adopted laws requiring districts to set phone policies or instituting stricter limits, with some districts enforcing all-day bans and using secure pouches (e.g., Yondr) to keep phones inaccessible during the school day. Supporters say the bans reduce distractions and improve learning; critics raise concerns about privacy, safety and student autonomy.

Restructuring the Education Department

The administration also moved to shrink and reorganize the U.S. Department of Education. Secretary McMahon reduced staffing substantially in March, and a presidential executive order directed the department to dismantle or transfer many functions to other federal agencies, while preserving core programs such as Pell Grants, Title I funding and services for students with disabilities. Several programs, including the Institute of Education Sciences, Federal Student Aid and the Office for Civil Rights, experienced staffing disruptions and temporary backlogs, prompting some rehiring and interagency agreements to maintain operations.

Outlook: 2025 was a year of intense federal intervention across higher education, immigration, student finance and K–12 policy. Many of these changes remain contested in courts and legislatures, and their long-term effects on enrollment, research capacity and student outcomes will unfold over years.