This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional, Executive, and Judicial activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Branch Activities of Interest
Floor Activity
The House and the Senate are both in session this week. The House passed its first FY 26 funding bill on the floor this week. The Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill passed on June 25 in a 218-206 vote, with two Democrats joining Republicans to pass the measure. The Senate is scheduled to be in session through Friday. However, Majority Leader John Thune has announced that senators will remain in Washington until the chamber passes its reconciliation bill.
Reconciliation
The Senate reconciliation bill is still working its way through the chamber’s process.
Markups
On June 25, the House Education and Workforce Committee marked up two accreditation bills, the Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act (H.R. 4054) and the Accreditation for College Excellence (ACE) Act (H.R. 2516). The Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act allows for expedited establishment of new accrediting agencies and requires accreditors to include achievement outcomes in the assessment of an institution’s success. The ACE Act requires accreditors to confirm their standards do not require an institution to support or oppose specific partisan or political beliefs, viewpoints on social or political issues, or support the disparate treatment of any individual or group. Both bills passed out of the Committee along party lines.
Bills Introduced
On June 24, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Collegiate Sports Integrity Act (S. 2147). The legislation would exempt collegiate athletic conferences and associations from antitrust laws. Read the press release here.
Hearings
On June 24, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on the FY26 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget. During the hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined plans to reorganize HHS, a summary of which may be found in a hearing memo linked here. Democrats on the Subcommittee expressed concerns about ongoing grant cancellations at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the proposed 40% cut to the NIH in FY2026. Watch the hearing here.
Executive Branch Activities of Interest
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Issues Guidance for Implementing Gold Standard Science
On June 23, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a memo providing guidance to federal agencies on implementing President Trump’s May 23 Executive Order, “Restoring Gold Standard Science.” The memo directs agencies to implement Gold Standard Science “tenets in all agency-managed scientific activities, including both intramural and extramural research.” The memo directs agencies to report, within 60 days, on the actions they are taking to implement the Executive Order.
State Department Expands Visa Vetting to Include Social Media
Late last week, the Department of State announced it will now use all available information to vet visa applicants, including reviewing social media and online profiles. As part of this process, applicants will be required to disclose any private social media accounts. Visa application appointments have resumed, but with heightened scrutiny and, thus far, inconsistent availability. Read the press release here.
National Science Foundation Issues Request for Information on Key Technology Focus Areas for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate
On June 20, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued an RFI seeking input to inform an assessment and update of the key technology focus areas for the NSF’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate. The RFI asks respondents to consider which areas are the most important to achieve specific goals related to global technology competition, economic growth, national security, sufficient workforce, and tech transfer. See the RFI here.
Judicial Branch Activities of Interest
Federal Judge Blocks Implementation of National Science Foundation’s 15% Cap on Facilities and Administrative Costs
On June 20, a District Court judge ruled in favor of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and its co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) policy capping facilities and administrative (F&A) costs at 15%. The NSF noted on its website that the agency will not implement the 15% indirect cost rate “in compliance with the court’s decision.”