Good afternoon,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of Missouri 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
DETERRENT Act Passes the House to Combat Foreign Influence in U.S. Colleges
U.S. Congressman Michael Baumgartner Press Release – March 27, 2025
Today, Congressman Michael Baumgartner’s (WA-05) Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act (H.R. 1048) has passed the House with bipartisan support in a 241 to 169 vote. The bill, introduced by Baumgartner, Vice Chair of the Education and Workforce subcommittee on Higher Education, aims to increase transparency and enforce stricter reporting requirements for foreign gifts and funding received by U.S. colleges and universities. The DETERRENT Act:
- Reduces the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 down to $50,000, with an even stricter $0 threshold for countries of concern.
- Closes reporting loopholes and provides transparency to Congress, intelligence agencies, and the public.
- Requires disclosure of foreign gifts to individual staff and faculty at research-heavy institutions to protect those targeted the most by our adversaries.
- Holds our largest private institutions accountable for their financial partnerships by revealing concerning foreign investments in their endowments.
- Implements a series of repercussions for colleges and universities that remain noncompliant in foreign gift reporting such as fines and the loss of Title IV funding.
Budget timeline moves up in Senate as GOP preps flexible targets
Roll Call – March 27, 2025
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told GOP senators Wednesday that a compromise budget resolution could hit the floor for a “vote-a-rama” as soon as next week, which would allow the House to adopt it the following week before the two-week April recess.
Federal News
Jay Bhattacharya Confirmed as NIH Director
Inside Higher Ed – March 27, 2025
The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University health economist who gained notoriety for his criticism of the NIH’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, secured the confirmation with a 53-to-47 party-line vote. His confirmation as NIH director comes as the agency, which sends billions in funding each year to researchers at more than 2,500 universities, faces dramatic funding cuts and a shake-up of its research priorities. In the two months since Trump took office, the NIH has eliminated some 1,200 staff, effectively paused grant reviews and sent termination letters to many researchers whose NIH-funded projects allegedly conflict with Trump’s orders to eliminate support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and other topics.
USDA – March 25, 2025
Recipients will have 30 days to review and voluntarily revise their project plans to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025. This process gives rural electric providers and small businesses the opportunity to refocus their projects on expanding American energy production while eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals. USDA Rural Development is informing awardees individually about this opportunity. Respondents will be asked to answer several questions and provide a short narrative description of any proposed changes.
Boeing awarded $20 billion contract to produce next generation fighter jet
Spectrum News – March 21, 2025
President Donald Trump announced Friday that the sixth generation of U.S. fighter jets will be built by Boeing. He announced the estimated $20 billion contract award at the White House with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leadership. The new manufacturing site for the fighter jets will be part of Boeing’s $1.8 billion expansion project in north St. Louis County, near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Senator Schmitt has been a long-time advocate for the NGAD program to continue and has been a key priority for him in the Senate, he has been a fierce advocate not only to keep the program but for Boeing to be the one to build it. He stated that, “This program is key for the United States to maintain and expand our air superiority and will bring thousands of new jobs to Missouri. These next-gen fighters will be crucial as we face new challenges that will undoubtedly come from our greatest adversary, China. I am proud that Missouri will be helping to lead the fight to defend our nation.”
2025 Congressional Calendar
Tentative 2025 congressional calendar, subject to change.
Reviewed 2025-03-28