Good evening,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the ϳԹ 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.
Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter:
Capitol Hill News
Roll Call – April 10, 2025
On April 10, 2025, the House narrowly approved a Republican budget resolution, 216–214, following commitments from GOP leaders to include at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade in the final reconciliation bill. This pledge was crucial in securing support from conservative members, enabling the advancement of legislation aligned with President Trump's agenda, including extending tax cuts and increasing defense and border security funding. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed that the $1.5 trillion in cuts should be considered a minimum, indicating potential for deeper reductions. However, internal GOP divisions persist, particularly concerning possible impacts on programs like Medicaid, as the party seeks to balance fiscal conservatism with political viability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Senate Appropriations Committee – April 11, 2025
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray, Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, respectively, released guidance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 programmatic, language, and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests. The Committee is moving forward with the FY 2026 appropriations process, and will begin hearings later this month. General guidance for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations requests is available .
House Appropriations Committee – April 2, 2025
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released guidance for Fiscal Year 2026 programmatic, language, and Community Project Funding requests. Members may submit a request to fund specific projects in their communities, so long as the projects have a federal nexus and meet other requirements established by federal law, House Rules, and the Committee to ensure only high-quality projects are requested and funded.
Federal News
Novartis – April 10, 2025
Novartis has announced a $23 billion investment over the next five years to expand its U.S. manufacturing and research footprint. The initiative includes constructing six new manufacturing plants and a research hub in San Diego, aiming to produce all key medicines for U.S. patients domestically. This move is partly in response to potential tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals proposed by the Trump administration. The expansion is expected to create over 4,000 jobs, including approximately 1,000 within Novartis itself. Two of the new facilities, focusing on next-generation cancer therapies, will be located in Florida and Texas, with the remaining sites yet to be determined.
Politico – April 8, 2025
President Donald Trump said that pharmaceutical imports will soon be hit with “major” tariffs as part of his efforts to drive manufacturing back to the U.S. Drug imports evaded the first round of tariffs that Trump imposed on countries around the world, but the president said they will not be spared. Domestic drug manufacturing has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. Most production of active pharmaceutical ingredients has moved to China and other countries, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The president gave no details on the pharmaceutical tariffs.
Higher Ed Dive – April 7, 2025
Research universities won an extended reprieve Friday when a federal judge permanently barred the National Institutes of Health from capping funding for indirect research costs at a 15% rate, a move that would cost institutions billions a year.
The White House – April 7, 2025
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is delivering on President Trump’s decisive Executive Order to remove barriers to American leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by releasing two revised policies on Federal Agency Use of AI and Federal Procurement. These memos were revised at the direction of the Executive Order and in coordination with the Assistant to the President on Science and Technology and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). , Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust , Driving Efficient Acquisition of Artificial Intelligence in Government
AP News – April 4, 2025
The Energy Department has identified thousands of federal workers it deems “nonessential” and would not be protected if there is another round of large-scale firings. The jobs at risk include more than 8,500 positions across the Energy Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration — which upgrades and maintains the nation’s nuclear warheads. The department identified them as eligible to be cut to meet the goals of President Donald Trump’s executive order for mass reductions in federal employees. It was not clear if every position identified as nonessential would be eliminated. All federal agencies had until March 13 to identify what departments and positions could be consolidated in a planning process to streamline the agencies and ready them for potential “large scale reductions in force,” Trump’s Feb. 26 order directed.
GAO Report – March of 2025
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report GAO-25-106000, released in March 2025, examines efforts by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to connect college students with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Despite a 2024 law authorizing the Department of Education to share Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data with USDA and state SNAP agencies, the Department has not yet developed a plan to implement this data-sharing, potentially delaying students' access to information about their eligibility for benefits. Moreover, the Department's current method for identifying potentially eligible students may overlook approximately 40% of them. While USDA has encouraged state SNAP agencies to enhance outreach and enrollment assistance, it has not provided comprehensive guidance on using student data, leaving states uncertain about permissible data-sharing practices. The GAO recommends that the Department of Education develop a plan for FAFSA data-sharing and assess its benefit notification approach, and that USDA improve its guidance to state SNAP agencies.
2025 Congressional Calendar
Tentative 2025 congressional calendar, subject to change.
Reviewed 2025-04-14