Dear Colleagues,   

Please find a federal government update from our teams.

Update on Indirect Cost Rates
A coalition of six Colorado research universities, led by the University of Colorado, wrote to the Colorado congressional delegation on June 4 to discuss the importance of indirect cost (IDC) rates in sustaining research and innovation in the state. The letter urges lawmakers to prevent federal agencies from imposing a flat IDC rate and to work with the research community to responsibly improve the system. In addition to CU, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Northern Colorado, and University of Denver signed the letter.

The National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Energy each announced this year that they would implement a standard 15 percent IDC rate for grants to colleges and universities, policies that have not been implemented due to nationwide injunctions. The Department of Defense is expected to announce a similar policy in the coming days.

The Congressional Research Service recently published a report entitled, Universities and Indirect Costs for Federally Funded Research, on the role it plays, its history and current efforts to reform IDC rates.

White House Announces Travel Ban
The White House issued a presidential proclamation entitled, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, on June 4. The proclamation institutes new entry restrictions on foreign nationals, including students and scholars, who are from countries with vetting and screening practices deemed “deficient” and other national security risk factors, including visa over-stay rates. The policy, which is effective June 9, implements recommendations from a report required by the Jan. 20 executive order, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

The new policy fully restricts entry to the U.S. from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It partially restricts entry from seven additional countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The policy applies to the entry of both immigrants and nonimmigrants. It includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents and existing visa holders. The Association of American Universities issued a statement of concern about the travel ban and other immigration policies that will undermine the United States’ status “as the top destination for the world’s very best innovators.”

CU is closely monitoring this issue. For more information: Proclamation, Fact Sheet.

Courts Block Proclamation Banning Foreign Students at Harvard
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on June 5 halting implementation and enforcement of a new White House proclamation entitled, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University, which seeks to bar the university from enrolling new international students and exchange visitors for at least 90 days. The proclamation, issued on June 4, also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking the visas of foreign nationals already enrolled at Harvard.  

Homeland Security Removes Sanctuary Jurisdiction List
The Department of Homeland Security pulled down a list posted online of sanctuary jurisdictions deemed non-compliant with federal immigration laws after intense criticism from local officials, law enforcement and others, reports NPR. The list, required by the executive order, Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens, included 39 Colorado counties and 14 cities, reports the Denver 7 News and the Associated Press.

White House Withdraws NASA Administrator Nomination
The White House announced on May 31 it would withdraw Jared Isaacman as its nominee for NASA administrator. While the White House did not specify why his nomination was pulled, Isaacman believes it is because of his ties to Elon Musk, reports Space News.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which Senator Hickenlooper serves on, voted on April 30 to favorably report Issacman’s nomination to the full Senate. He was expected to be confirmed to lead the space agency as early as this week. The White House said it will announce a new nominee who will “put America First in Space” soon.

To date, the Senate has confirmed 73 nominees and is considering an additional 251 nominees put forward by the White House, reports the Washington Post.

We recognize our campus communities have concerns at this time of unpredictable and unprecedented change at the national level. The Federal Relations and General Counsel teams are actively monitoring developments and are committed to keeping you informed.  We are likewise working closely with the President and Chancellors as well as the Colorado congressional delegation to champion university federal priorities. Thank you for the important work you do and will continue to do. We encourage you to visit the CU System Federal Transitions Update page for up-to-date communications and federal memos.   

Kerry Tipper, Vice President, University Counsel  
Danielle Radovich Piper, Sr. VP External Relations and Strategy