The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

NSF Director Resigns
Judge Temporarily Blocks Education Department from Enforcing DEI Rules
President Trump Signs EOs on Foreign Reporting, Accreditation
Trump Administration Reverses Terminations of Student Visa Registrations
Court Temporarily Blocks Administration from Revoking Legal Status of 133 International Students
State Department Releases Reorganization Plan
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The Highlights 📰

Research

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

NSF DIRECTOR RESIGNS

Sethuraman Panchanathan, the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced his resignation 16 months before the end of his term, stating "I believe that I have done all I can to advance the mission of the agency and feel that it is time to pass the baton to new leadership." At the time of this writing, the NSF had not yet named an acting director to succeed Panchanathan.

NSF Director Resigns

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

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FROM ENFORCING DEI RULES

Federal judges in New Hampshire and Maryland issued rulings blocking the U.S. Education Department from enforcing guidance that declared all race-based programming and DEI-related activities illegal. The courts found that the department’s February 14 guidance likely violated procedural rules and First Amendment protections. The Maryland decision applies nationwide, while the New Hampshire ruling initially protected only specific institutions.

DEI Enforcement Temporarily Blocked

PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EOS ON FOREIGN REPORTING, ACCREDITATION

President Trump issued a series of executive orders this week aimed at reshaping higher education policy by targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices and increasing oversight of foreign funding. One order addresses enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, requiring institutions to report foreign gifts and contracts more rigorously, citing concerns about foreign influence and underreporting.

A separate order calls for reforming the accreditation system by holding accreditors accountable for enforcing policies seen as discriminatory under DEI, promoting intellectual diversity and allowing new accreditors to enter the field. It also directs the Department of Education to enhance transparency in program outcomes and reduce unnecessary academic costs.

New EOs

Immigration

The latest updates on legislation and regulatory actions related to immigration that are relevant to Duke.

TRUMP ADMIN REVERSES TERMINATIONS OF STUDENT VISA REGISTRATIONS

Announced today, the Trump administration has reinstated the student visa registration of thousands of international students whose entries were terminated from a federal tracking system. The Justice Department reversed the decision following widespread judicial pushback, with more than 100 lawsuits and restraining orders filed in response across 23 states. According to POLITICO, the Department of Justice and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement are working on a new policy regarding foreign students studying in the United States on F-1 visas. Until then, "no students will have their online student-visa records, known as SEVIS records, terminated 'solely based on' criminal history checks that had flagged misdemeanor charges and dismissed cases."

Termination Reversal

COURT TEMPORARILY BLOCKS ADMINISTRATION FROM REVOKING LEGAL STATUS OF 133 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

In similar news, earlier this week a federal judge in Georgia granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the Trump administration from revoking the legal status of 133 international students who claimed their due process rights were violated. The students alleged their F-1 visas and work authorizations were terminated without proper notice or a chance to respond. The judge's decision restored their status while the case proceeds, with the order expiring in early May.

Visa TRO

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASES REORGANIZATION PLAN

This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the first phase of a major State Department reorganization, which includes closing 132 domestic offices, eliminating around 700 Washington, D.C.-based positions and shutting down offices focused on war crimes and global conflict. CNN reports that a senior official described the department as “bloated” and argued the changes are necessary to improve its effectiveness and relevance in foreign policy. While the cuts won’t result in immediate layoffs, according to CNN, officials acknowledged that job losses are expected as part of the restructuring.

Reorganization Announcement

Post of the Week!

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