The DC Digest

Duke Government Relations

Duke in DC's Top News Today:

Recess Over, Attention Now on Reconciliation
Lawsuits Filed Challenging Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education
Pausing of Federal Funds to Columbia University Challenged in Court
Michael Kratsios Confirmed as OSTP Head

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.

FY26 BUDGET UPDATE

Now that Congress is back from its March recess and a continuing resolution (CR) through the end of the fiscal year is in place, lawmakers are turning their attention to reconciliation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), as well as the chambers’ committee chairs, are expected to meet today to begin those discussions. As we reported last month, each chamber passed its own version of a budget resolution. Now, the two chambers will have to compromise on a version that currently is several trillion dollars apart and differ on which policies should be included in the bill.

Reconciliation Next Steps

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

ORGANIZATIONS FILE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DISMANTLE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The American Federation of Teachers and its Massachusetts chapter joined two Massachusetts school districts in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. A separate lawsuit from the NAACP, National Education Association, and a Maryland union argues that the cuts put vulnerable students at risk, threaten education jobs and reduce access to Pell Grants.

Lawsuit Filed

LEGAL CHALLENGE TO PAUSING OF FEDERAL FUNDS AT COLUMBIA

Two organizations, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) filed a lawsuit Tuesday, calling the Trump administration’s moves to pause funding at Columbia University, “unlawful and unprecedented effort to overpower a university’s academic autonomy."

Lawsuit Filed

Trump Administration

CABINET-LEVEL UPDATES

The Senate today confirmed Michael Kratsios to serve as the next director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in a 74-25 vote.

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