2026 Post August Recess State-of-Play

September 25, 2026

As part of the Office of Government Relations (OGR)’s ongoing work to track federal policy developments affecting the Duke community, this update provides a high-level review of legislative and administrative activity over the past several months. The summary below builds on earlier OGR coverage and highlights more recent developments across budget and appropriations, research, student aid, immigration, tax, and broader policy engagement.

At the time of this writing, the House is currently on recess to focus on the upcoming election cycle, with the Senate scheduled to leave for recess on October 2nd, through the election–Election Day is November 3rd. OGR will provide you with the latest updates during this period in our DC Digest, which goes out on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Budget and Appropriations

Congress moved several funding measures forward this spring and summer, advancing both FY27 appropriations bills and reconciliation legislation across multiple accounts. A snapshot of proposed funding levels for agencies and programs of interest to the Duke community is below. A primer on the appropriations process is available here.

Congressional work on appropriations remains unfinished. The House has advanced all 12 FY 27 appropriations bills through committee and passed several on the floor, while the Senate bills remain in committee. Although the administration proposed substantial reductions to many research and education programs, appropriators have generally taken a more moderate approach, preserving funding for several key federal research agencies while proposing targeted reductions elsewhere.

Both the House and Senate have passed continuing resolutions (CR) that would extend current funding levels through Dec. 11 while lawmakers continue negotiations on full-year appropriations bills. Notably, the CR that has been signed into law includes language blocking the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed revisions to Uniform Guidance, an issue discussed in the Research section below.

After a months-long standoff, both the House and Senate passed what’s being called “Reconciliation 2.0,” a bill providing $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which was promptly signed into law by President Donald Trump. Congress now looks ahead to work on its “Reconciliation 3.0”

Research

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposal to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, also known as Uniform Guidance. The proposal would:

• Shift greater authority over grantmaking to OMB
• Increase political review of awards
• Restrict international collaborations
• Expand agencies’ ability to deny or terminate grants

OMB stated the changes “would improve transparency, accountability, and oversight,” and provided 45 days for public comment– Nearly 500,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period. Duke’s comment letter is availble here. Stakeholders noted that the proposal does not change indirect cost rate policies but may prompt future action. Currently, the Office of Government Relations (OGR) is actively tracking any action OMB takes on this proposal and will continue to provide updates in our DC Digest as necessary.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) advanced its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after markups in a closed committee session. The panel released an executive summary of the major provisions: a topline of $1.14 trillion in defense spending, including $1 trillion for the Defense Department and $41 billion for defense-related activities at the Department of Energy (DOE). We covered the House’s version of the NDAA earlier, which passed the full chamber vote. The full Senate has stalled in action on the NDAA after a failed procedural vote in July.

In other research news, we reported in our digest that a newly disclosed agreement between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD) would allow the Pentagon to access National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) funding for biodefense, medical countermeasures, and disease outbreak response activities from 2026 to 2036. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said that the agreement does not explicitly transfer NIAID funds to the Pentagon and said its primary purpose is to improve interagency research collaboration.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a report titled “Science: A New Golden Age.” In the report, OSTP Director Michael Kratsios proposes sweeping changes to how federal funding for research is spent and awarded, including a focus on funding individual researchers instead of institutions, lower indirect cost rates and more experimental funding pathways, like prize and challenge awards. The National Science Foundation recently released its plan for the implementation of this report.

President Donald Trump signed the SBIR/STTR reauthorization bill into law. As we covered earlier in the year, the bill reinstates the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which expired last fall. The approval authorizes $6 billion in funding for the programs

Lawmakers also introduced the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act, which would prohibit federal funding for research collaborations with entities or individuals on U.S. government blacklists and broadly define “research collaboration” to include joint projects, co-authorship, data sharing and personnel exchanges.

Student Aid

The federal government brought forth several regulatory and administrative updates affecting federal student aid, loan servicing, and accreditation.

The Department of Education advanced its overhaul of the college accreditation system, reaching consensus with negotiators on the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) rulemaking. The proposal would increase competition among accreditors, establish clearer measures of student outcomes, revise transfer credit policies and incorporate concepts such as intellectual diversity into accreditation reviews. The Department will next publish the agreed-upon language for public comment before issuing a final rule.

The Department also released final regulations from the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rulemaking, which largely mirror the earlier proposal and do not expand graduate and professional borrowing limits. In addition, ACE–joined by 38 higher education associations–submitted comments on the proposed Workforce Pell rule, raising concerns about implementation, legal uncertainty, and administrative complexity.

Separately, in ongoing litigation over admissions data reporting, Department lawyers indicated they do not intend to bring enforcement actions against schools with a good-faith reason for not submitting data. A federal judge is still weighing whether to allow higher education associations to intervene and potentially extend relief to private institutions.

As we previously reported, the Education and Treasury Departments also announced plans to move a group of borrowers with federal loan defaults into a Treasury-run collection program beginning in July. The initial rollout included several hundred thousand borrowers and would restart collection communications, as part of a broader shift in administration of the federal student loan portfolio.

Immigration

The OGR is closely monitoring the ongoing developments with the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule ending the longstanding “duration of status” framework for F, J, and I visa holders. As previously reported, the rule would replace the current open-ended admission period with fixed periods of stay and establish new requirements for maintaining status. A coalition of higher education associations and organizations, including NAFSA and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, has filed a lawsuit challenging the rule and seeking to block implementation while the case proceeds. The plaintiffs argue that DHS exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act in issuing the regulation.

Separately, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking portions of a Trump administration executive order related to birthright citizenship. The ruling prevents enforcement of provisions that would deny citizenship to certain children born in the United States, finding that the executive order conflicts with the Supreme Court’s June decision on the issue. Legal challenges to the administration’s policy are expected to continue.

In other immigration news, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also issued a policy memorandum emphasizing that adjustment of status is “a matter of discretion and administrative grace.” The memo states that the statutory framework generally expects nonimmigrants to depart the United States rather than pursue adjustment and directs adjudicators to evaluate applications based on the “totality of the circumstances,” including family ties, immigration history, and other factors. At the time of writing, a U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a decision declaring unlawful and vacating four USCIS policies, including the USCIS adjudication hold covering petitions and benefit applications, for those who list one of the 39 designated “high-risk countries” as their country of birth or citizenship. As always, the Office of Government Relations (OGR) is monitoring potential implications.

A new report found that F-1 student visa refusal rates reached a decade-high in 2025, with denial rates rising to 35 percent overall. Refusals were concentrated in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia–where some countries saw rejection rates above 90 percent–while rates remained lower and more stable in Europe and parts of South America.

Tax

The Treasury Department and the IRS proposed regulations in early September to clarify the circumstances under which private educational institutions could lose their federal tax-exempt status for policies or practices that discriminate based on race, color, or national or ethnic origin. The proposal would apply to a broad range of institutions, including colleges and universities, and would take effect no earlier than taxable years beginning after May 31, 2027. As a proposed rule, it is expected to undergo further review and could face both legal and legislative scrutiny before being finalized.

Additional Items

A bipartisan group of senators introduced the “Protect College Sports Act of 2026,” which would establish a national framework for college athletics, including federal standards for name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, expanded health and safety protections, and clearer rules for eligibility and transfers. The bill is similar to the previously introduced SCORE Act but is silent on the issue of student athletes employment status. All the major athletic conferences support the legislation.

Trump Administration

This spring saw numerous changes in President Trump’s cabinet. After former Attorney General Pam Bondi left the administration, Deputy Todd Blanche assumed the duties. He was formally nominated by President Trump and now awaits Senate confirmation.

Jay Clayton now serves as the Director of National Intelligence following Tulsi Gabbard’s announcement that she planned to step down.

In other administration news, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced an additional round of appointments to its Science and Technology Innovation Board (STIB), bringing total membership to 33. The board’s initial work will focus on congressionally directed activities, including testing capabilities and improving software development across the department. Separately, the Senate confirmed Arvind Raman as director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Earlier this spring, President Trump dismissed the entire National Science Board, an organization that oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF). A group of 13 former National Science Foundation (NSF) leaders urged the Trump administration and the Senate to restore leadership at the agency following the resignation of its director more than a year ago and the removal of the entire National Science Board.

Advocacy and Policy Engagement

Duke engaged with policymakers both on campus and on Capitol Hill.

In Durham, Duke welcomed congressional staff from across North Carolina to campus for its State and District Congressional Staff Day, an opportunity to showcase the university’s research, education, healthcare, and community impact across the state. Staffers learned about PreMiEr, the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center led by Duke and partner institutions, where researchers are advancing solutions to improve indoor environmental health through microbiology, engineering, robotics, and data science.

The visit also included conversations with students from Duke’s military-affiliated community and remarks from President Vincent Price highlighting Duke’s commitment to service, research excellence, and the people of North Carolina. The day continued with Duke Health leaders and researchers sharing how innovations in areas such as wearable health technologies, digital care, and hospital operations are improving patient outcomes and expanding access to high-quality care statewide. The day showcased the breadth of Duke University and Duke Health’s work across research, education, healthcare delivery and innovation.

In DC, the inaugural executive Master of Public Affairs (MPA) cohort from the Sanford School of Public Policy began its second year in Duke’s hybrid MPA program with a residency at Duke in DC. The residency combined classroom learning with experiential opportunities, including courses on applied artificial intelligence, American politics, and public affairs practice, as well as a behind-the-scenes visit to C-SPAN headquarters and a discussion with CEO Sam Feist on the media’s role in informing the public during rapidly evolving political events. Students also connected with members of the incoming MPA cohort and heard from Shalanda Young, former director of the Office of Management and Budget, who shared insights on public service leadership and navigating complex policy challenges.

The residency highlighted the program’s emphasis on connecting academic learning with real-world public affairs experience while fostering professional networks among current students, alumni, and leaders across the field.

The Duke in DC office also welcomed a new cohort of first-year students to Washington through Project Citizen, where they engaged with Duke alumni on Capitol Hill, representatives from international organizations, including the World Bank and European Union Delegation, and other leaders working to address public challenges through government, policy, and civic engagement.

The DC Digest - September 4, 2026

September 10, 2026

• House Back from Recess, Passes Continuing Resolution
• NASA Launches Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope with Help from Duke Scientists
• Higher Ed Associations Submit Amicus Brief in Case Challenging New “Duration of Status” Rule
• Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Aimed at ‘Birth Tourism’
• Judge Rules Trump Policies Deporting Foreign Students Based on Speech Unconstitutional
• Treasury, IRS Propose Rule Linking Tax-Exempt Status to Nondiscrimination Requirements
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest - August 28, 2026

September 1, 2026

• White House Releases National Security Science and Technology Strategy
• President Trump Signs Executive Order Establishing Commission with Goal to Create US Space Academy 
• DHS Proposes New H-1B Fee for Cap-Subject Petitions
• Department of Education Proposes Changes to General Administrative Regulations
• Department of Education to Further Delay Publishing Names of Certain Foreign Sources of University Funding
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest - August 21, 2026

September 1, 2026

• NIH Proposes Withholding Peer Review Scores from Applicants
• NSF Announces $1.5 Billion in New Funding Opportunities
• Department of Education Proposes College Accreditation Overhaul
• Coalition Files Lawsuit Challenging DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest - August 14, 2026

September 1, 2026

• Senate Passes Continuing Resolution Before August Recess
• DOJ Finds Three NSF Programs Discriminate Based on Race and are Unconstitutional
• Trump Signs Executive Orders Targeting Birthright Citizenship
• Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Alleging Antisemitism at Harvard
• Todd Blanche Confirmed as Attorney General
• Post of the Week! 

The DC Digest - August 7, 2026

September 1, 2026

• Appropriations Update
• Private Nonprofit Colleges and Universities Contribute $838.9 Billion to U.S. Economy, Report Finds
• Post of the Week!

The DC Digest - August 4, 2026

August 10, 2026

• Senate Advances Funding Patch That Would Block Uniform Guidance Language
• NSF Announces $47 Million Investment in UIDP’s Industry-Integrated PhD Scholars Program
• National Academy of Inventors and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Announce Five-Year National Initiative to Strengthen America’s Innovation Future
• Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Commit to Education Overhaul
• SEC, Big 10 Schools Agree to Support College Sports Bill After Negotiations

The DC Digest - July 31, 2026

August 10, 2026

• Senate Education Committee Passes Plan to Block Parts of Trump’s Education Department Breakup
• Department of Education to Further Delay Publishing Names of Certain Foreign Sources of University Funding
• Appeals Court Blocks $100,000 H-1B Fee for Now
• Department of State Issues Proposed Rule on J Visas

The DC Digest - July 28, 2026

August 10, 2026

• Reports Indicate NIH Has Restarted Select Grant Cancellations
• Trump Administration Drops Bid to Press Penn for Jewish Employee Information
• Jay Clayton Advances to Full Confirmation Vote for Director of National Intelligence

The DC Digest - July 24, 2026

August 10, 2026

• House Passes Stopgap Funding Bill
• NDAA Passes in House
• Department of Energy Announces Awards for Genesis Mission, Duke Researchers Selected
• OSTP Director Michael Kratsios Releases “Science: A New Golden Age” Report
• Appeals Court Rejects Department of Education’s Appeal to Delay Borrower Defense Decisions
• Bipartisan Lawmaker Group Introduces Bill to Grant Afghan Nationals Protected Status
• Trump Administration Rolls Back Title VI Disparate Impact Enforcement
• Post of the Week!