Good afternoon,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of èapp 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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Capitol Hill Update
Higher Ed Dive – February 13, 2025
The Deterrent Act would amend Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which oversees foreign gift and contract reporting requirements for colleges. Details regarding the legislation below.
- The House Committee on Education and Workforce voted Wednesday to that would require colleges to report gifts and contracts valued at $50,000 or more from most foreign countries.
- That would lower the requirement from the current threshold of $250,000. Republicans argued that the bill, called the Deterrent Act, is needed to prevent foreign influence in higher education.
- The bill would also lower the reporting threshold to $0 for the “countries of concern” as determined by the U.S. Code or the secretary of education, which include China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The proposal would bar colleges from entering into contracts with those countries unless the secretary of education issues them a waiver and renews it each year.
House Appropriations Committee – February 10, 2025
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) stated in released sent to committee chairs across the conference, that he “anticipate(s) that the Subcommittees will begin marking up the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills in late April, and (he is) committed to completing these bills prior to October 1, 2025”, thereby urging coordination and a review of legislative priorities for the 119th Congress. To strengthen oversight and effective governance, he champions a focus on program authorizations and performance to support a strong Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation – February 11, 2025
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a database identifying over 3,400 grants, totaling more than $2.05 billion in federal funding awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) during the Biden-Harris administration. This funding was diverted toward questionable projects that promoted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or advanced neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda. The database served as the backbone for Sen. Cruz’s which revealed how the Biden administration politicized scientific research. The report discovered multiple extreme research projects that were spearheaded by professors who were also promoting antisemitic protests on college campuses.
House Republicans unveiled a allowing for $4.5 trillion in deficit increases over a decade to accommodate tax cuts, alongside a $300 billion boost in defense, immigration enforcement, and border security spending. The plan requires $1.5 trillion in cuts to programs like Medicaid, Obamacare subsidies, and food assistance and expedites a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase. The House Budget Committee will review the proposal tomorrow, with a full vote possible by month's end. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are advancing their own , proposing $342 billion over four years for border security, defense, and energy, offset by unspecified spending cuts. Senate committees must finalize their reconciliation measures by March 7.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has a hearing to consider the nomination of Linda McMahon as secretary of education. The hearing will take place on Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET and can be livestreamed
Federal News
A U.S. District Judge clarified that the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) proposed 15% cap on facilities and administrative (F&A) costs is blocked nationwide. This follows a lawsuit filed by AAU, APLU, ACE, and several universities. While the judge denied a separate temporary restraining order (TRO), they confirmed that an existing TRO from a similar case fully prevents NIH from implementing the cap. A hearing on extending the TRO and moving toward an injunction is set for February 21.
Higher Ed Dive – February 11, 2025
The department didn’t provide a list of canceled contracts but said NAEP, the College Scorecard and the College Navigator were not impacted. In total, 89 IES contracts worth nearly $900 million were canceled, according to DOGE and the Education Department. The Education Department did not respond to a request for a list of the canceled contracts or provide a reason for the terminations.
AXIOS – February 9, 2025
The Commerce Department has sent NOAA officials a broad set of keywords to search grants in ways that would cover most climate change-related projects. NOAA is one of the world's top weather and climate agencies and provides funding to universities and researchers to improve the understanding and prediction of extreme weather and climate change.
2025 Congressional Calendar
Tentative 2025 congressional calendar, subject to change.
Reviewed 2025-02-14