The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

FY 27 NDAA Text Released
NASA Announces Realignment to Accelerate Mission Delivery
USCIS Will Grant ‘Adjustment of Status’ Only in Extraordinary Circumstances
Bipartisan Bill "Protect College Sports Act" Introduced in Senate
New Appointees to STIB Board, NIST Director Confirmed
Gabbard Steps Down as National Intelligence Director
Post of the Week!

The Highlights 📰

Research

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

FY 27 NDAA TEXT RELEASED

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) released the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing $1.14 trillion in national defense spending--below the administration’s request but, notably, the highest level of funding in history. The bill includes $1.1 trillion for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and $42 billion for nuclear weapons activities at the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill would authorize a roughly 4 percent increase for basic research programs over the administration’s FY 27 budget request. One provision of note is that the legislation would require the defense secretary to establish a policy using the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to guide the development or acquisition of future DOD quantum computing systems. The bill is set to be marked up next week.

On the Senate side, the Armed Services Committee is expected to mark up its bill the week of June 8th, according to POLITICO Pro.

NDAA Released

NASA ANNOUNCES REALIGNMENT TO ACCELERATE MISSION DELIVERY

NASA recently announced an agency-wide reorganization it says is aimed at increasing efficiency and aligning operations with mission priorities. The changes consolidate several directorates, including combining aeronautics and space technology into a new Research and Technology Mission Directorate and merging exploration and spaceflight efforts into a Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate. The Science Mission Directorate will remain unchanged. According to administrator Jared Isaacman, “there will be no reduction in force, no program cancellations, no closures, but we will achieve cost savings through more efficient execution and taking an active role in delivering the outcomes the world has been waiting for from NASA.”

NASA Realignment

Immigration

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

USCIS WILL GRANT ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS ONLY IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

Last week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum noting that adjustment of status is “a matter of discretion and administrative grace.” The memo notes that the “statutory scheme suggests that Congress expects aliens… to depart rather than pursue adjustment of status” from within the United States. It also directs officers to evaluate cases based on the “totality of the circumstances,” instructing adjudicators to “weigh all positive and negative factors, including family ties, immigration status and history, [and] the applicant’s moral character.” The Office of Government Relations (OGR) is monitoring the implications of this memo and will provide updates as necessary.

Policy Memo

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

BIPARTISAN BILL "PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT" INTRODUCED

A bipartisan group of senators introduced this week the "Protect College Sports Act of 2026", legislation aimed at establishing a national framework for college athletics. The bill would create federal standards for name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, expand health and safety protections, set clearer rules for eligibility and transfers and provide protections for women’s and Olympic sports. The bill is similar to the previously introduced SCORE Act, but avoids applying definitive non-employee status to college athletes. As always, OGR will monitor and provide updates on the next steps the bill takes through both chambers.

Protect College Sports Act

Trump Administration

STIB BOARD APPOINTED, NIST DIRECTOR CONFIRMED

The Department of Defense (DOD) announced an additional round of appointments to its Science and Technology Innovation Board (STIB), formed earlier this year through the merger of two advisory groups. The new selections bring total membership to 33, including Kelvin Droegemeier, former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The board’s initial work will focus on congressionally directed activities, including testing capabilities and efforts to improve software development and delivery across the department.

In other news, the Senate voted 46-43 to confirm Arvind Raman as director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Raman currently serves as dean of engineering at Purdue University.

GABBARD STEPS DOWN AS NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

Late last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced she would step down from her position, citing her husband's recent diagnosis of bone cancer. She will end her tenure on June 30th.

Post of the Week!

Government Relations Resources

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