Governance shakeups and program cuts are producing immediate effects on institutional oversight and access for underserved students. Virginia’s new governor named 27 board members on his first day, prompting resignations at flagship public universities and signaling a fast shift in state‑level oversight. Separately, budget cuts to Minority‑Serving Institutions are curtailing services for Indigenous learners. Virginia’s rapid board appointments and resulting resignations at institutions such as the University of Virginia and George Mason highlight how executive action can quickly alter institutional leadership and strategic direction. Meanwhile, commentators and advocates warn that cuts at MSIs — which serve Native and other underrepresented students — undermine legal and moral obligations to provide equitable access and wraparound supports. The combined governance and funding moves heighten operational uncertainty for administrators and create near‑term risks for student recruitment, retention and program continuity among vulnerable populations.