The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

DHS Votes Fails, Department Shutdown Expected
White House Withholds NASA Funds
DOD Withdraws Appeal in Indirect Cost Case
Energy Sciences Coalition Urges Congress to Pass National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act
Government Accountability Office Says DOD Needs to Improve Oversight of Technology Investments

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.

DHS VOTE FAILS, DEPARTMENT SHUTDOWN EXPECTED

Yesterday, Senate Democrats blocked a motion to advance a House-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), increasing the likelihood of a partial government shutdown. All but one Senate Democrat, John Fetterman (D-PA), voted against the measure, which required 60 votes to pass--the final vote tally was 52-47. The deadline for DHS's continuing resolution (CR) expires tonight at midnight. However, approximately 40 percent of DHS funding is covered by the "One Big Beautiful Bill" reconciliation package passed last summer. Additionally, many DHS services are fee-driven and are not expected to be seriously affected by a partial shutdown. Both the House and Senate have left town for the holiday weekend and are scheduled to be in recess next week. As we've previously covered, Congress has advanced all bills to fund all other government agencies. The Office of Government Relations (OGR) will continue to monitor federal activity and provide updates as needed.

DHS News

Research

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

WHITE HOUSE WITHHOLDS NASA FUNDS

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed NASA to temporarily pause funding for several science missions, despite Congress restoring funds for those programs in the recently enacted FY 2026 spending bill. According to reporting from POLITICO Pro, the hold affects missions the administration previously sought to cancel, including Earth‑science and planetary research initiatives. NASA officials described the move as a short‑term pause while the agency prepares updated spending plans in coordination with OMB, emphasizing that no projects have been halted or canceled. The hold is expected to last about 10 days, though it may be extended pending further guidance.

DOD WITHDRAWS APPEAL IN INIDRECT COSTS CASE

The federal government filed a motion this week to dismiss its appeal in the case challenging the Department of Defense’s (DOD) 15 percent cap on indirect cost reimbursement. The case is led by higher education associations AAU, ACE, and APLU, two of which Duke is a member. The dismissal still requires approval by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the timing of the court’s ruling remains uncertain. If granted, the order vacating the DOD rate‑cap policy will stand as the final decision, marking the second similar appeal the government has voluntarily withdrawn, following last year’s withdrawal in the case involving the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) indirect‑cost cap.

Appeal Withdrawal

COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO PASS NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE REAUTHORIZATION ACT

The Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC), representing more than 100 organizations
including Duke, is calling on Congress to move quickly on the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act (NQI), emphasizing that renewed legislation is essential to keeping the United States competitive on a global scale in this industry. The coalition supports including provisions from the DOE Quantum Leadership Act, which would expand "the DOE Office of Science’s leadership role in advancing quantum science and technology for U.S. competitiveness, leverages the unique expertise and world-leading research facilities at DOE national laboratories and DOE-funded research universities, helps train the next-generation workforce, and expands public-private partnerships to accelerate innovation and future adoption."

Coalition Letter

GAO SAYS DOD NEEDS TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT OF TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS

Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report recommending improvements to the DOD that would strengthen coordination of its science and technology efforts. GAO recommended that DOD “direct each military department to develop science and technology strategies that align” with the department‑wide S&T strategy led by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering “to the maximum extent practicable.” The report also called on DOD to “issue guidance for developing Critical Technology Area roadmaps” and to “provide guidance to the military departments on the amount of investment in each critical technology area needed” to ensure alignment with those roadmaps.

GAO Report

Government Relations Resources

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