A Department of Justice legal report has amplified advocates’ concerns about new risks to funding for minority‑serving institutions after the Education Department recently cut competitive grant dollars. The DOJ analysis outlines legal interpretations that could affect eligibility and enforcement of federal programs for MSIs. Separately, the U.S. Department of Education’s AHEAD negotiators reached consensus on an accountability package that would apply an earnings-based test across all Title IV programs. The proposed rules would require programs to demonstrate graduates’ earnings exceed defined benchmarks to retain federal student-aid eligibility, raising stakes for program-level data collection and financial-aid offices. College and university leaders should immediately assess data systems, labor-market outcome tracking, and legal exposure. MSIs and any program with workforce-aligned credentials face heightened compliance pressure and potential funding shifts tied to new federal accountability metrics.