The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

State of FY25 Appropriations
NSF Celebrates Two Years of CHIPS and Science Act
Education Department Announces Plans for December FAFSA Launch
NLRB General Counsel Issues Guiding Memo on FERPA
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The Highlights 📰

Budget & Appropriations

The latest coverage on Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations that are relevant to Duke.

Duke Government Relations' primer on the federal appropriations process.

APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE

There was a flurry of activity related to FY 25 appropriations before Congress entered its August district work period, particularly within the Senate. Overall, the bipartisan bills provide increases for select higher education research priorities within the NSF, DOE, and NIH, as well as a slight increase in the Pell Grant annual maximum award.

The Senate’s proposed funding levels are also higher in these areas when compared to the House proposals. However, basic research within the Department of Defense continues to be slated for reductions. Below, you'll find the latest appropriations chart.

Research

The latest updates on legislation and regulations that impact Duke's research enterprise.

NSF CELEBRATES TWO YEARS OF CHIPS AND SCIENCE

The NSF is celebrating the two-year anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act, a landmark bipartisan legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden emphasizing the nation's commitment to investment in key research and technology areas. Through the CHIPS and Science Act, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has been working "to lay the groundwork for a more resilient, inclusive and productive American STEM enterprise." This includes codifying the NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)--the NSF's first new directorate in 30 years.

Chip, Chip, Hooray!

Student Aid, Institutional Support and Taxes

The latest updates regarding legislation and regulatory actions related to student aid, higher education institutional support, taxes and more.

NASFAA Student Aid Reference Desk

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES DECEMBER FAFSA LAUNCH

The Education Department announced this week that the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2025-2026 academic year would be made fully available by Dec. 1. The agency said in an effort to avoid the issues that affected this year's rollout, the form would be made available to a limited number of parents and students on Oct. 1, the application's usual release date. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced legislation that would mandate the department release the forms by Oct. 1. It was advanced in committee in the House but has not seen any action in the Senate at this time.

FAFSA Forecast

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

NLRB GENERAL COUNSEL MEMO CLARIFIES DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

According to a memo sent out Tuesday by National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, colleges and universities cannot use student privacy laws to circumvent their federal obligations. The memo emphasizes that higher education institutions cannot deny unions seeking to organize student workers access to student records because of conflicts with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA).

NLRB Memo

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