Nearly all senior higher‑education leaders report that federal policymaking has injected substantial uncertainty into institutional planning, according to an American Council on Education pulse survey. Presidents and provosts flagged threats to academic freedom, immigration policy shifts affecting international enrollment, and unpredictable research funding as top concerns. The broader reporting shows colleges making staffing, budget and program decisions in an environment where federal investigations and shifting agency priorities have forced contingency planning. Institutional leaders say this persistent policy volatility is straining long‑term strategy, impairing recruitment of international students and complicating research administration and compliance.