An American Council on Education pulse survey found 98% of senior higher education leaders report federal policymaking has injected uncertainty into institutional planning. Presidents and campus executives identified threats to institutional autonomy and academic freedom as top concerns, with more than 70% rating interference risks as extreme or moderate. Survey respondents also flagged immigration and international engagement, research funding volatility, and student-aid policy changes as major planning disruptors. Sixty percent reported extreme or moderate worry about visa and immigration restrictions affecting international enrollment. Campus leaders told ACE the policy turbulence is already driving tangible operational changes—budget adjustments, hiring freezes and altered service delivery—shifting near-term priorities away from long-term investments and strategic initiatives.