With Colorado’s June 30 primary election here and the upcoming elections in November, the University of Colorado reminds employees of guidelines regarding political campaign-related activity and expression. Please read this article in CU Connections or visit the Office of Government Relations Guidelines and Resources page for more information.

2026 CU in DC Conference
President Todd Saliman and the CU Office of Federal Relations hosted the 2026 CU in DC Conference June 23-25. Coloradans from across the state traveled to Washington, D.C. to learn and engage with federal legislators, foreign policy experts, members of the media, and others.  

CU in DC attendees on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Drea Torres/University of Colorado

The conference was attended by CU Regents Ilana Spiegel, Frank McNulty, and Mark VanDriel as well as CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman. Students from all four CU campuses were awarded scholarships to attend the conference.

Attendees with Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO).

Drea Torres/University of Colorado

Participants heard from members of the Colorado congressional delegation, including Reps. DeGette, Neguse, and Crank. Participants also heard from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and prominent figures in foreign policy, journalism, and AI policy.

CU President Todd Saliman with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO).

Drea Torres/University of Colorado

Learn more about this memorable event, including recaps of Day 1 and Day 2.

CU Leadership Hill Visits 
During the week of the conference, CU leadership met with federal agency leadership as well as members of the Colorado delegation and their staff. Chancellor Elliman met with Rep. Hurd and the offices of Sen. Hickenlooper, Reps. Crow and Evans, and leadership from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). UCCS Chancellor Sobanet met with leadership from the Department of Labor and the National Institutes of Health. UCCS leadership also met with the Department of War.

FY27 Appropriations Update
Congress is currently working on the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) appropriation process. Congress has provided a full FY27 status table for House and Senate appropriations bills.

The House Appropriations Committee began its work marking up the twelve appropriations bills in April and have approved appropriations bills for all departments. The Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, & Related Agencies appropriations bill passed the House floor on June 4.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has not begun markups due to disagreements over topline spending totals for defense and non-defense programs. More can be read in The Hill.

The University of Colorado Federal Relations team actively advocates for robust funding for programs which support our students and researchers, including federal financial aid and numerous research agencies and programs. We have submitted CU-specific requests to Congress, signed stakeholder support letters, urged our members to lead and sign dear colleague letters, and brought CU leadership, faculty and students to Capitol Hill to champion university priorities.

NDAA Update
The Senate Armed Services committee approved their version of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act on June 11. This follows the House Armed Services Committee’s passage of their version on June 5. The Chairman's Mark, which is the initial draft version, was released on May 27.

The Senate draft bill contains language that CU submitted on Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), military trauma care and research, and digital strategies for traumatic brain injuries. 

Recent Advocacy Letters
The CU System, CU Boulder, and CU Anschutz signed onto a multi-organization letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on June 12, urging for a 45-day extension to the comment period for proposed changes to the government’s guidance for federal financial assistance.

CU Boulder and CU Denver signed onto multi-organizational letters to House and Senate leadership on June 12 in support of passage of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act.

CU President Todd Saliman, CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz, and CU Boulder Athletic Director Fernando Lovo sent a letter to Senators Cruz, Cantwell, Schmitt, and Coons on June 15 supporting the Protect College Sports Act of 2026.

Recent Colorado Events
The CU Board of Regents held their quarterly meeting in Greeley on June 4. The Board hosted a community reception with President Todd Saliman and CU leadership and were joined by leadership from the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, local and state elected officials, and others. Congressional staff from Rep. Evan’s office also attended.   

Congressional staff from Sen. Bennet’s office joined CU Boulder on June 7 at the reopening of the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre to kick off the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

President Todd Saliman hosted a fireside chat featuring CU Boulder Athletic Director Fernando Lovo and Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, moderated by Director of Audio Broadcasting Mark Johnson. CU Regent Ray Scott also attended the event in Grand Junction on June 8. Congressional staff from the offices of Sen. Hickenlooper and Rep. Hurd also attended.

James Wolff, Associate Administrator for Information Management and CIO of the National Nuclear Security Administration, toured CU Boulder’s Center for National Security Initiatives on June 29.