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Good afternoon, 

The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of ������Ů System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.  

If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.

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Capitol Hill News

The Senate is struggling to pass a $1.2 trillion, six bill government funding package before a looming midnight deadline. Sen. Lindsey Graham has issues with the package, objecting to a House provision repealing protections tied to senators whose phone records were obtained during the 2020 DOJ probe. To avoid a broader shutdown, Senate Democrats and the White House agreed to strip Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from the package and replace it with a two-week stopgap, setting up high stakes negotiations over ICE policy that could quickly escalate. 

While leadership hopes to secure unanimous consent to move the bill, any single senator can delay passage for days, and the House is not expected back until Monday. The impasse underscores tensions over immigration enforcement, with Democrats seeking ICE reforms and Republicans warning against one sided concession, all as time runs out to avert a funding lapse affecting the Pentagon and other key agencies.

APLU – January 27, 2026

On January 13, the Republican Study Committee released its roadmap for a second reconciliation bill, “ Making the American Dream Affordable Again,” with recommendations that would achieve a $1 trillion reduction to the net deficit. Codification of the President’s executive order that promote home ownership, drive down the cost of health care, and reduce energy costs by unleashing American energy dominance. 

U.S. Senate Committee on Health Education Labor & Pensions – January 27, 2026 

On Tuesday, February 3, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing on how to modernize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bring innovative, lifesaving cures to American families. The Committee will hear from NIH Director Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya.

Delegation News

Senator Josh Hawley Press Release – January 29, 2026 

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) applauded the Department of Justice (DOJ) for creating an online portal for radioactive waste survivors to upload their claims for life-saving assistance. This comes after Senator Hawley’s expansion of the Radioactive Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was signed into law last year. This legislation will deliver compensation to those who lived near West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek and were exposed to radioactive waste. Over 700 ������Ůans have already received nearly $35 million in compensation. This new online  will make it that much easier for ������Ůans to submit their claims and receive life-saving assistance. 

Congressman Alford Press Release – January 27, 2026

On Friday, February 6, 2026, Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) and Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, will host a roundtable titled “Main Street at Work: Empowering Small Businesses to Deliver Greater Affordability” in Kansas City, ������Ů. The purpose of this roundtable discussion is to hear directly from small businesses about how the Committee can best support them.

Federal News

APLU – January 26, 2026

On Friday, the Trump Administration released its 2026 National Defense Strategy with a theme of “Restoring peace through strength for a new golden age of America.” Of note, the strategy states, “We will deter China in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not confrontation.” And “We will increase burden-sharing with allies and partners around the world.” The report iterates the Department’s technology prioritizations to develop the Golden Dome, advance counter unmanned aerial systems, and access portions of the electromagnetic spectrum necessary to defend the homeland. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – January 26, 2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public feedback on potential approaches to strengthen the American-made supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medicines. Building on lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the agency is exploring ways to reduce reliance on foreign-made medical supplies and enhance the nation’s readiness for future emergencies while supporting American workers and manufacturers.

The Hill – January 29, 2026

President Trump and major tech companies are attempting to change the narrative around data centers, as rising electricity costs linked to AI infrastructure faces growing local opposition and increasingly become a political liability. Both the White House and tech industry appear keen to limit the fallout from data centers, with initiatives to bring down electricity prices and recast the sprawling facilities as community players willing to pay their fair share.

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) and Directorate for STEM Education (NSF EDU) announced a bold new initiative to renew American manufacturing, revitalize America's energy dominance and address the shortage of a trade and skilled workforce. NSF seeks feedback on this initiative through a .

U.S. National Science Foundation – January 13, 2025 

NSF’s draft FY26–FY30 Strategic Plan outlines the agency’s vision to strengthen American excellence and national security by investing in cutting edge research, developing the STEM workforce, enhancing NSF’s core capabilities, and modernizing agency operations. Some goals and objectives noted below. 

• Development of critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum information science and biotechnology
• Developing STEM workforce.

• Building STEM capacity across regions and a range of organizations, including community colleges, nonprofits and businesses.

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  Congressional Calendar

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