Williams College faculty approved motions to remove race‑based language on admissions and hiring from the faculty handbook as part of an effort to comply with new federal grant conditions and resume funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation. The revisions replace affirmative‑action references with non‑discrimination language and revise fellowship eligibility descriptions. The moves follow Williams’ pause on accepting NSF and NIH grants amid regulatory uncertainty; college officials said the edits would allow the institution to recertify for federal awards. The actions highlight a broader trend of campuses adjusting internal policies to align with changing federal enforcement priorities. Meanwhile, coverage of the Education Department’s reduced staff and shifting priorities under Secretary McMahon suggests the agency’s influence is diminished but not extinguished — federal compliance and grant administration remain central to institutional strategy and risk assessment.