GW Weekly Federal Update (February 26)

Recent Federal Actions

Department of Education

• In the February 19 edition of the GW Weekly Federal Update, we reported that on February 11, the Department of Education released updated foreign gift and contract disclosures under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act through its public reporting portal. On February 23, the ED announced new interagency agreements, including a partnership with the Department of State to support oversight of foreign gifts and contracts reported by colleges and universities under Section 117. Under the agreement, State will assist in managing the Section 117 reporting portal, review institutional compliance using its national security expertise, share data with federal stakeholders, and help identify potential risks, while ED’s Office of the General Counsel will retain statutory responsibility and oversight. ED stated the partnership is intended to improve transparency and enforcement of foreign funding disclosures. The announcement is part of a broader set of interagency agreements, including a separate partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services related to school safety and family engagement programs. Separately, a group of Senate Democrats has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the department’s use of interagency agreements, including the transfer of certain higher education and career and technical education grant programs to the Department of Labor and other agencies. The lawmakers requested a review of the planning, implementation, costs, and potential impacts of the agreements, including whether the transfers delayed funding or affected program administration for states and grantees.

General Services Administration

• On January 28, the General Services Administration, which administers the System for Award Management—a public database GSA maintains to verify and manage entities seeking government contracts, grants, or other financial awards—proposed a new policy that would require public and private entities to certify that they are complying with Trump Administration Executive Orders relating to DEI as well as the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (commonly referred to as the “Bondi Memo”). Public comments are invited until March 30.

U.S. Supreme Court

• On February 20, the Supreme Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) did not authorize President Trump to unilaterally impose the broad range of tariffs he imposed through executive orders and proclamations to address what the President contended was the influx of illegal drugs from Canada, Mexico and China, and large and persistent trade deficits. On February 21, President Trump announced that he would impose a temporary global tariff of 10 percent under a different statute – the Trade Act of 1974 – which he later increased to 15 percent, and promised in a social media post that he would “determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs.” The impact of the Supreme Court decision invalidating the tariffs in effect prior to February 20 is unclear. The Supreme Court left it to lower courts to determine if and how the Administration must issue refunds to affected parties. According to media reports, over 1,500 companies have already filed lawsuits in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a full refund on tariffs they have paid.  Even if the companies succeed and receive refunds they would not be obligated to share the proceeds with their customers.

Other Higher Education Institutions

• UCLA: In the July 3, August 7 and August 14 editions of the GW Weekly Federal Update, we reported on the Justice Department’s investigation and ultimate findings that the University of California System and its individual campuses engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against Jewish employees. On February 24, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in California against the University of California, alleging among other things that UCLA created an unlawful hostile environment and retaliated against Jewish and Israeli employees on the basis of their race, religion and national origin. DOJ demands that UCLA modify and enforce its anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation policies and award an unspecified amount of money in damages to aggrieved Jewish and Israeli UCLA employees. In a press release, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon remarked: “The litany of vile acts of antisemitism that allegedly took place, and continue to take place, at UCLA are, if found to be true, a mark of shame against the University of California. The Justice Department will ensure that UCLA maintains an environment for its employees free from antisemitic harassment.” In a statement, UCLA emphasized that it had “taken concrete and significant steps to strengthen campus safety, enforce policies and combat antisemitism in a systemic and sustained matter, and that UCLA “stand[s] firmly by the decisive actions we have taken to combat antisemitism in all its forms, and we will vigorously defend our efforts and our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all members of our community.”

Government Shutdown

• As reported in the February 19 GW Weekly Federal Update, a partial government shutdown began on February 14 after lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September. Approximately 120,000 DHS employees are working without pay, while roughly 140,000 employees remain funded, including many immigration and law enforcement personnel supported through prior legislation. The funding lapse affects agencies within DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Lawmakers remain divided over DHS funding, with Democrats seeking changes to immigration enforcement policy. Updates on federal operating status are available through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Research

• Recent congressional actions reflect increased scrutiny of university research collaborations involving China. Leaders of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the Senate Judiciary Committee sent letters to NASA and the FBI raising concerns about federally funded research linked to entities associated with the Chinese government, citing a December 2025 report involving a Stanford University professor affiliated with an export-controlled Chinese research institution. The letters questioned whether NASA-funded research complied with restrictions under the Wolf Amendment and requested information on compliance and oversight mechanisms. Separately, House Science Committee leaders sent letters to five federal agencies regarding safeguards against foreign-backed fraudulent scientific publishing operations. In addition, a report by the Center for Research Security & Integrity found that nearly $944 million in U.S. government research funding supported collaborations with 45 Chinese defense-designated laboratories between 2019 and mid-2025, concluding that current research security policies have not fully prevented federally funded research from benefiting China’s defense programs.

Department of Energy

• On February 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 26 science and technology challenges intended to advance the Genesis Mission and accelerate innovation through artificial intelligence, building on President Trump’s executive orders launching the initiative. According to DOE, the challenges span discovery science, energy, and national security priorities and are designed to leverage AI platforms, supercomputing resources, experimental facilities, and public-private partnerships to accelerate research and development. Earlier this month, DOE also established the Genesis Mission Consortium to strengthen collaboration with national laboratories, industry, and academia, with working groups focused on AI model development, data integration, high-performance computing, and automation. A summit for universities and philanthropic organizations was held in Arlington last week with discussions centered on institutional partnerships, computing and data ecosystems, workforce development, research productivity, and related challenge areas.

National Science Foundation

• President Trump is expected to nominate Jim O’Neill, former Deputy Health Secretary and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to serve as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Reports describe O’Neill as a biotech investor focused on longevity and anti-aging initiatives, and note that he has held roles at the Department of Health and Human Services as well as leadership positions with Clarium Capital, the Thiel Foundation, the Thiel Fellowship, and the SENS Research Foundation. It was also reported that National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya would temporarily take on the additional role of CDC acting director. The NSF has been without a permanent director since Sethuraman Panchanathan resigned last April, with Chief of Staff and GW alumnus Brian Stone currently performing the director’s duties; the nomination would require Senate confirmation.

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.