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Good afternoon, 

The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of èßäapp System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.  

If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.

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Federal Update

Congress recently passed a stopgap funding measure that extends government funding through March 14. 

House

Last Friday, the House narrowly voted 218-215 to reelect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker. In committee assignments, Congressman Bob Onder has been appointed to the Judiciary, Education & Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committees. 

Senate

Senator Josh Hawley is no longer on the Energy Committee but has now been added to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Additionally, Senator Eric Schmitt has joined the Judiciary Committee, making èßäapp unique with both senators serving on this committee. 

Federal News

Business Insider – January 9, 2025

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have big plans for the Department of Government Efficiency. The two have promised to significantly reduce the federal budget, with Musk saying in October he wanted to cut $2 trillion. Federal spending reached $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024, with nine-tenths going to federal programs. President-elect Donald Trump has long sworn not to touch Social Security or Medicare benefits, which comprise a significant chunk of the budget.

NPR – January 10, 2025 

A law passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in April set a Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok's China-based owner, ByteDance, to sell off its U.S. operation, or the app would be banned nationwide. In a case titled TikTok v. Merrick Garland, the app's legal team and lawyers from the Justice Department will argue before the Supreme Court in an emergency hearing. TikTok is expected to argue that a Biden administration law banning the app is unconstitutional because it undercuts the free speech of the millions of Americans who use it. The Justice Department is expected to argue that the app poses a national security risk because it could be used by a foreign adversary to manipulate or gather data on Americans.

2025 Congressional Calendar

Tentative 2025 congressional calendar, subject to change.