Dear Colleagues,

Please find a federal government update from our teams.

Senate Passes CR, OMB Uniform Guidance Delay; House to consider in September
The Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR, H.R. 6500) [3] on Aug. 8 by a vote of 90-6 [3] which would fund the federal government until Dec. 11 after fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding expires on Sept. 30. In addition to other policy provisions in the CR, the measure includes language that would prevent the administration from finalizing the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule to revise the Uniform Guidance (UG) through the duration of the CR. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper both voted in favor of the legislation. The House is expected to consider the CR with the UG delay when it returns from recess in September.

DOJ Sues Three More States Over In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced [4] on Aug. 10 that they are suing New York, Vermont, and Connecticut over laws granting in-state tuition for undocumented students. The DOJ has now sued 17 states over similar laws, including [5] Colorado. 

Judge Dismisses DOJ’s Harvard Antisemitism Lawsuit
A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed [6] a lawsuit by the Administration against Harvard University on Aug. 13 that alleged the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to adequately address antisemitic harassment. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed [7] the lawsuit in March and sought to recover federal research funding awarded to Harvard. The judge ruled that the incidents cited by the government were too isolated to demonstrate an ongoing, systemic civil rights violation. The DOJ is expected to appeal.

Unions Sue Over ED Graduate Degrees Definitions
A coalition of labor unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, National Nurses United and AFL-CIO, filed a lawsuit [8] on Aug. 11 challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rule and its definition of “professional degree.” The lawsuit argues that the department unlawfully narrowed the definition, subjecting programs such as education, social work and public health to lower graduate student borrowing limits.

A similar lawsuit was filed [9] by 26 states, including Colorado and the District of Columbia, on May 19, alleging ED unlawfully narrowed the definition of "professional degree" programs and would reduce access to graduate education in high-demand fields.

President Trump Issues EO on Childhood Vaccinations
President Trump issued an executive order (EO) on Aug. 10, Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans [10], reducing the recommended number of vaccines recommended for all children and shifting several vaccines to shared clinical decision-making. The order builds on the May 29 EO, Reforming the Childhood Vaccination Schedule [11], which directed federal health officials to review and revise the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule. The new order also directs federal agencies to implement the revised recommendations and encourages states to consider corresponding changes to school vaccination requirements.

The Federal Relations and General Counsel teams are actively monitoring developments at the federal level. We are working closely with the President and Chancellors, as well as the Colorado congressional delegation to champion CU priorities. We are committed to keeping you informed. Please visit the CU System Federal Updates and Actions page [12] for up-to-date communications and federal memos.

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