Interim President Frederick Bonato Named Manhattan University Leader

President Donald Trump has recently secured a Supreme Court ruling that allows him to proceed with firing about 40 percent of the Education Department's workforce, a move seen as an expansion of presidential authority and a step toward shifting education functions back to the states. The 6-3 decision overturned a previous injunction that viewed the firings as an unlawful attempt to dismantle the department without congressional approval, a point contested by the dissenting justices who warned against executive lawlessness. Trump celebrated the ruling as a major victory for parents and students. Concurrently, the White House continues to play a pivotal role in shaping higher education policy through executive orders, budget proposals, and initiatives that affect colleges and universities nationwide, including offices dedicated to workforce development, regulatory oversight, and support for institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The American Council on Education actively engages with the administration to ensure that the interests and perspectives of higher education institutions are considered in federal policymaking. This complex interplay highlights the ongoing influence and reach of the presidency over education policy amid significant institutional changes under President Trump.