GW Weekly Federal Update (February 12)

Recent Federal Actions

Congress

• House Republicans are working to revive the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, a bill aimed at regulating the college sports industry and providing antitrust protections to athletic governing bodies such as the NCAA. The legislation, which stalled last year amid bipartisan opposition, would grant athletics entities limited antitrust exemptions, preempt conflicting state laws, and bar student-athletes from being classified as employees. Supporters argue that recent lawsuits challenging NCAA eligibility rules have increased urgency for federal action, while critics continue to raise concerns about broad liability protections and the employment status of athletes. Lawmakers remain divided on the scope of antitrust protections and guardrails needed to balance institutional authority with protections for athletes and academic institutions, and negotiations are ongoing as Congress considers whether a compromise can gain sufficient support.

The National Capital Region and Other States

• As reported in the January 22 Federal Update, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed five new members to the Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors, filling vacancies after prior nominees were blocked. Following these appointments, legislation was introduced that would restructure VMI and transfer its governance to Virginia State University. The Department of Defense has since expressed concern about the proposal, noting VMI’s role as a source of commissioned officers for the Armed Forces and indicating it is monitoring the legislation due to potential implications for military readiness. The bill has not advanced out of a House subcommittee and remains under consideration.

Department of Defense

• On Jan. 29, the Department of Defense announced plans to merge the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) and the Defense Science Board (DSB) into a new Science and Technology Innovation Board (STIB), pending formal establishment through the Federal Register. According to the Department, the merger is intended to streamline advisory functions, reduce overlapping recommendations, and provide more coordinated guidance on science, technology, and innovation priorities. The DIB previously served as a civilian advisory body that included leaders from technology and finance sectors, while the DSB typically consisted of academic researchers and subject-matter experts who produced reports on technical and strategic defense issues. The newly formed STIB will include up to 40 members and will maintain two permanent subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Strategic Options and the Subcommittee on National Security Innovation. Department leadership stated that the consolidation is designed to integrate scientific expertise and private-sector perspectives into a unified advisory structure supporting national security objectives.

Resources and Reminders

About this Newsletter

GW publishes this weekly Federal Update to inform students, faculty and staff about how developments in the federal government affect higher education generally and the University. This newsletter includes timely information, answers to questions from GW community members, and resources for support.