Sen. Bill Cassidy launched an investigation into freshman math placement at 35 selective institutions, sending letters that demand data on placement methods and remedial practices by Feb. 5. Cassidy cited a University of California, San Diego working group finding that a portion of first‑year students placed into math below middle‑school level despite high school GPAs. The probe targets Ivy League and STEM‑heavy schools, including Georgia Tech and Rice, and requests information on use of SAT/ACT scores, placement exams, and courses containing precollege content. Cassidy framed the inquiry as a response to falling K–12 achievement that is spilling into higher education. Colleges will need to reconcile admissions decisions with placement realities and may face pressure to tighten entry standards or expand remedial supports. The investigation could prompt federal attention to academic preparedness and accelerate universities’ investments in bridge programs and math pathways.