The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

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 Highlights 📰

Budget & Appropriations

The latest coverage on Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations that are relevant to Duke.

Duke Government Relations' primer on the federal appropriations process.

SENATE ADVANCES FUNDING PATCH THAT WOULD BLOCK UNIFORM GUIDANCE LANGUAGE

Last night, the Senate advanced a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that would fund federal agencies through December 11 and avert a government shutdown at the start of FY 27. The measure cleared its initial procedural vote 89-4 and contains several provisions not in the House-passed stopgap bill, including language that would temporarily block the administration from implementing proposed changes to federal grantmaking procedures. As previously covered, Duke strongly opposed the proposed changes as outlined in its response letter and thanks Senate leadership for its efforts to include this language in the funding measure. Both Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) voted in favor of the CR. While the bill passed the Senate last night, it must still be reconciled with the House version before it can be sent to the president.

Senate Stopgap Vote

Research

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

NSF ANNOUNCES $47 MILLION INVESTMENT IN UIDP'S INDUSTRY-INTEGRATED PHD SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced last week a $47 million investment over the next five years to launch a pilot program that will support a new, four-year, Ph.D. model combining graduate education with industry research experience. The initiative, known as the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP) Industry-Integrated PhD Scholars Program (I-PhD), aims to support more than 250 doctoral students nationwide through partnerships between universities and private industry. Under the model, the NSF said that participating students will complete industry-based dissertation research, receive mentorship from both academic and industry advisers and complete their doctoral degrees in four years.

NSF News

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS AND U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ANNOUNCE FIVE-YEAR NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S INNOVATION FUTURE

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have launched a new five-year national initiative which seeks to strengthen innovation, intellectual property development and technology commercialization. In its announcement, the NAI and USPTO said that the effort will bring together universities, industry, government and nonprofit partners to "[create] a framework that empowers inventors, accelerates innovation, and strengthens America’s leadership for generations to come."

New Initiative

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

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS COLLEGES TO COMMIT TO EDUCATION OVERHAUL

Yesterday, Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a “National Call to Action,” asking colleges and universities to publicly outline how they are addressing issues such as admissions transparency, affordability, free expression, academic standards, research integrity and foreign influence by the end of the year. The initiative, which was developed with input from select higher education leaders, including the Association of American Universities (AAU), encourages institutions to describe existing and planned reforms but does not specify any formal requirements or consequences for participation.

Letter Sent

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

SEC, BIG 10 SCHOOLS AGREE TO SUPPORT COLLEGE SPORTS BILL AFTER NEGOTIATIONS

The SEC and Big Ten announced over the weekend their support for the Senate's proposed Protect College Sports Act, which we previously covered, following negotiations with lawmakers on the bill's provisions. The legislation would establish a federal framework for college athletics, including rules governing athlete compensation, conference operations, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) arrangements. The proposal still faces hurdles in the Senate, where it would need sufficient bipartisan support to advance and ultimately pass Congress.

College Sports Bill Suport

Government Relations Resources

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