The DC Digest-January 6, 2026

January 6, 2026

• Appropriations Committee Releases Minibus Bill Text
• Court Upholds Ruling to Block NIH Cut to F&A
• Education Department to Start Garnishing Wages of Student Loan Borrowers in Default
• DOJ: Education Department’s Race-Based Grants Unconstitutional
• Judge Sides with Trump Administration Over $100K Visa Fee

The DC Digest-December 23, 2025

December 23, 2025

• Senate Republicans Release FY26 Homeland Security Funding Bill
• House SST Hearing on Research Security
• DOE Under Secretary for Science Appears Before House SST Committee
• Trump Administration Appeals Harvard Ruling
• Senate Clears Additional Federal Agency Nominations
• Trump Nominates Joshua Rudd to Lead NSA

The DC Digest will return after the new year. Happy Holidays!

The DC Digest-December 19, 2025

December 19, 2025

• Senate Leaves Town without Minibus Action
• Trump Signs NDAA
• Administration Plans to Dismantle NCAR
• NSF to Implement Organizational Realignment
• Senators Budd and Fetterman Introduce Legislation to Create National AI-Enabled, Automated Lab Network
• NSF Announces New Initiative to Bolster Research Organizations
• Trump Expands Travel Ban to 39 Countries
• Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Push to Classify Nursing as a Professional Degree
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest-December 16, 2025

December 16, 2025

• Senate Passes NDAA Procedural Vote
• Federal Policy Updates from Duke Government Relations: Research
• Federal Judge Issues Ruling on Borrower Defense Settlement Deadlines
• Visa Developments: Lawsuit Filed Over H-1B Visa Fee, New Social Media Screening Rules Implemented

The DC Digest-December 12, 2025

December 12, 2025

• NDAA Passes House, Likely Up for Senate Vote Next Week
• New Executive Order on State AI Laws
• AHEAD Committee Reaches Consensus in Negotiated Rulemaking Session
• Education Department Takes Next Step in Review of College Accreditation 
• FAFSA Launches New “Earnings Indicator” Tool
• House Committee Marks Up College Cost Bills
• Senate Moves Forward with New S&T Nominees
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest-December 9, 2025

December 9, 2025

• NDAA Text Released, Vote Expected Wednesday
• FAFSA Completion Up
• Education Department Bringing Back Civil Rights Employees

The DC Digest-December 5, 2025

December 5, 2025

• OSTP Issues RFI on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
• Negotiations to Begin for Next Negotiated Rulemaking Session
• Trump Administration Orders Enhanced Vetting for Applicants of H-1B Visa
• USCIS Shortens Employment Reauthorization Period for Foreign Workers
• House Delays Action on SCORE Act
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest-December 2, 2025

December 2, 2025

• December Appropriations Forecast
• New Foreign Gift Reporting Portal Announced
• SCORE Act Voted Out of House Committee, Expected for Vote
• Northwestern Settles with Trump Administration

The DC Digest-November 25, 2025

November 25, 2025

• Senate Releases Two Funding Bills Which Include F&A Cap Blocking Language Directed at OMB and the Department of Energy
• NIH to End SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities 
• Bipartisan Letter of Support for Foreign Students and Scholars Issued by Former National Security and Foreign Policy Officials
• New Executive Order on AI to Mobilize Federal Labs

The DC Digest-November 21, 2025

November 21, 2025

• Department of Energy Announces Reorganization
• Department of Defense Revises List of Critical Technology Areas
• Trump Administration Announces Plan to Shift Department of Education Responsibilities to Other Agencies
• Former Ambassadors and State Officials Send Letter Opposing Targeting of Foreign Students and Scholars
• Post of the Week!