Higher education associations and Democratic attorneys general urged the General Services Administration to rescind an anti-DEI certification proposal that would require federal funding recipients to certify compliance with contested executive directives on antidiscrimination law. The higher ed groups argue that recipients already certify legal compliance, and that the added certification language risks turning non-binding guidance into de facto mandatory requirements. The proposed changes would require certifications tied to how recipients handle practices such as race-based scholarships and diversity statements in hiring, and it also references DOJ’s July memo describing common campus practices as potential civil-rights pitfalls. The policy shift matters for institutional compliance operations because it affects System for Award Management registration. Universities face litigation risk and governance strain as they prepare to respond to certification requirements that may be contested in court.