The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

House Back from Recess, Passes Continuing Resolution
NASA Launches Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope with Help from Duke Scientists
Higher Ed Associations Submit Amicus Brief in Case Challenging New “Duration of Status” Rule
Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Aimed at ‘Birth Tourism’
Judge Rules Trump Policies Deporting Foreign Students Based on Speech Unconstitutional
Treasury, IRS Propose Rule Linking Tax-Exempt Status to Nondiscrimination Requirements
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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.

HOUSE BACK FROM RECESS, PASSES CONTINUING RESOLUTION

Upon its return from recess this week, the House passed the latest continuing resolution (CR), following Senate approval last month. The measure would fund the federal government through December 11 and, notably, would temporarily prevent the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing its proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance (UG) during the duration of the CR. Having now cleared both chambers, the bill heads to President Trump for his signature, and the White House has indicated the president supports the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has also indicated that the House will leave early for the midterm election recess, canceling the last two weeks of votes in September.

Back in Session

Research

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

NASA LAUNCHES NANCY GRACE ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE WITH HELP FROM DUKE SCIENTISTS

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched this week, featuring work by Duke researchers who are part of international teams preparing to use the telescope’s observations to study distant supernovae and map the distribution of dark matter. The telescope is expected to operate for at least five years and support research on a range of topics, including galaxy evolution, exoplanets, and black holes. Among those celebrating the telescope's successful launch is Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-NC), who represents Duke and serves as Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.

Telescope Launch

Immigration

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

HIGHER ED ASSOCIATIONS SUBMIT AMICUS BRIEF IN CASE CHALLENGING NEW “DURATION OF STATUS” RULE

Higher education associations continue to challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule ending the “duration of status” framework for F, J, and I visa holders. This week, the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit filed last month by the Presidents’ Alliance and NAFSA that seeks to delay the rule’s September 15 effective date while litigation proceeds. The groups argue that the rule could cause “irreparable harm” to the groups' members as well as to “affiliated international students, scholars, and physicians.”

Amicus Brief

JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP'S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER AIMED AT ‘BIRTH TOURISM’

A federal judge this week issued a preliminary injunction on portions of a Trump administration executive order that sought to limit birthright citizenship for some children born in the United States--we covered the original EO last month. The ruling prevents enforcement of provisions that would deny citizenship to children born to certain foreign nationals, with the judge finding that the order conflicts with the Supreme Court’s June decision on the issue.

Judge Blocks

JUDGE RULES TRUMP POLICIES DEPORTING FOREIGN STUDENTS BASED ON SPEECH UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Last week, federal judge Noël Wise ruled that the Trump administration cannot use certain immigration authorities to revoke visas or seek the deportation of noncitizen students based on protected speech. The decision found that the administration’s use of provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act violated First Amendment and due process protections, rejecting efforts that had affected hundreds of international students.

Judge Ruling

Additional Federal Relations Items of Interest to Duke

TREASURY, IRS PROPOSE RULE LINKING TAX-EXEMPT STATUS TO NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS
The Treasury Department and the IRS proposed regulations this week to clarify the circumstances under which private educational institutions could lose their federal tax-exempt status for policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin. The proposal would apply to a broad range of institutions, including colleges and universities, and would take effect no earlier than taxable years beginning after May 31, 2027. As a proposed rule, it is expected to undergo further review and could face both legal and legislative scrutiny before being finalized. The Office of Government Relations and University Counsel will
will monitor and engage on this proposal and provide updates as necessary.

Proposed Regulation

Post of the Week!

Government Relations Resources

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