GW Weekly Federal Update (October 30)

Government Shutdown and GW Resources

• As the federal government shutdown enters its 29th day, we recognize that this ongoing situation is creating stress and uncertainty for many members of the GW community, including those who rely on federal programs, research funding, or family income connected to government employment. Despite continued debate on Capitol Hill, the Senate once again rejected the House-passed stopgap bill to fund the government through November 21, marking the 13th unsuccessful attempt to advance a proposal to reopen federal operations. Most Democratic senators have maintained that they will not support reopening until a bipartisan agreement is reached on Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire soon. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal workers’ union, has called on Congress to end the shutdown immediately. The national impacts are expected to grow more severe by the end of the week, with military paychecks delayed and SNAP benefits projected to lapse. 
  
  GW will continue to monitor developments closely and remains committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff throughout this period. Students in need of support can access wellbeing resources or studentsgwu [dot] edu (contact) the Division for Student Affairs. Faculty and staff can access the Employee Assistance Program, and researchers can askovprgwu [dot] edu (contact OVPR) for updates related to federally funded projects.

National Guard Update and GW Commitment to Safety

• A lawsuit challenging the National Guard’s presence in Washington, D.C., is ongoing. On October 24, a federal judge heard arguments on whether to order the withdrawal of more than 2,000 National Guard troops currently stationed in the District but made no ruling. The hearing stems from a lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argues that the Guard’s continued deployment—authorized under a presidential emergency declaration issued in August—violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits military involvement in civilian law enforcement. Although the emergency period formally ended in September, more than 2,200 members of the Guard remain, with court filings suggesting preparations for an extended deployment into next summer. 
  
  We recognize that members of our community may have concerns about the presence of additional federal personnel in the District. We remain committed to providing a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff through the efforts of the GW Police Department and coordination with external law enforcement agencies, while ensuring full compliance with legal requirements. We encourage those with concerns or questions about safety to review our resources page or federal [dot] updategwu [dot] edu (contact us) for additional guidance. 

Recent Federal Actions

Actions Related to Other Universities

• UCLA: In the August 14 edition of the GW Weekly Federal Update, we reported that UCLA was engaged in a dialogue with the Trump Administration about resolving findings that UCLA had acted with deliberate indifference toward Jewish and Israeli students, and that the Administration’s initial settlement proposal included a demand that UCLA pay over $1 billion. A copy of the draft settlement proposal has now been made public.  Among other requirements, the proposal would require UCLA to not enroll “foreign students likely to engage in anti-Western, anti-American, or antisemitic disruptions or harassment and “socialize international students to the norms of a campus dedicated to free inquiry and open debate;” ban overnight campus demonstrations; limit transgender individuals’ rights; “discontinue race- and ethnicity-based scholarships;” and prohibit “proxies used to effectuate race-based or sex-based outcomes” in hiring and admissions decisions.

Department of Education

• The Department of Education confirmed it will proceed with its second week of rulemaking on November 3, even if the government shutdown remains unresolved. The main topic for the advisory committee will be determining which graduate and professional programs qualify for new federal loan caps under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The law limits borrowing to $200,000 for designated professional programs such as law, medicine, and pharmacy, and to $100,000 for other graduate programs. Negotiators remain divided on how narrowly to define “professional” programs, with many warning that limiting eligibility to 10 fields could reduce access to federal loans for high-cost, high-demand areas like clinical psychology and physical therapy. Alternatives being discussed include expanding eligibility to more health-related programs or using broader credit-hour criteria. While the department has proposed a one-year temporary expansion before returning to a smaller list, key stakeholders want a lasting compromise that balances fiscal responsibility with workforce needs.

Higher Education Advocacy

• As reported in the September 26 edition of the GW Weekly Federal Update, the White House announced restrictions on the entry of new H-1B workers into the U.S., unless their petitions are accompanied by a $100,000 supplemental payment to the U.S. government. In a letter dated October 23 to the Department of Homeland Security, the American Council on Education along with several other higher education associations raised a number of questions and concerns about the fee. It asked that higher education be exempted from the $100,000 fee requirement “given the fact that H-1B beneficiaries working at our institutions train and educate domestic students for these high-demand occupations, conduct essential research, provide critical patient care, and support the core infrastructure of our universities.” 
  
  GW continues to evaluate the full implications of these restrictions and will share updates with our community as more information becomes available. Please isogwu [dot] edu (reach out to the ISO) if you have questions about your individual circumstances.

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.