This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional, Executive, and Judicial Branch activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Branch Activities of Interest
Floor Activity
The House and Senate are in session this week.
Today, March 27, the House voted to pass the DETERRENT (Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions) Act (H.R. 1048) by a vote of 241-169. 31 Democrats joined all but one Republican voting in favor. The DETERRENT Act proposes modifications to Section 117 foreign gift reporting; establishes reporting requirements for faculty and staff and prohibits universities from entering into agreements with certain organizations in countries of concern. However, universities may petition the Department of Education to waive the prohibition.
On Wednesday, March 26, the Senate voted to confirm leaders to two of the nation’s top science posts: Michael Kratsios as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Jay Bhattacharya as NIH director. The votes were 74-26 for Kratsios and 53-47 for Dr. Bhattacharya. Indiana Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks voted in favor of both nominations.
FY26 Appropriations
With the FY25 appropriations process complete, attention now shifts to the FY26 process. President Trump is expected to release his FY26 Budget Request this April or May, which is a delay from the normal timeline.
Bills Introduced
S.1123: College Employment Accountability Act – Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) has reintroduced the Act. The bill prohibits colleges and universities that hire unlawful immigrants from receiving federal student aid and mandates participation in the E-Verify Program for all federally funded institutions of higher education. Indiana Rep. Erin Houchin has introduced companion legislation in the House, H.R. 2367. A press release from Sen. Banks about the bill may be found here.
CREATE AI Act of 2025 – Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) have reintroduced the Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would codify in law the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) to democratize access to the tools needed for AI research. The initiative aims to provide students, researchers, and small businesses with government-backed access to computational resources, datasets, testbeds, and training tools, breaking down the current barriers to entry in AI development and ensuring that innovation isn’t limited to large tech companies. The NAIRR would be overseen by a steering subcommittee and operated through the National Science Foundation.
Expanding Medical Education Act (H.R. 2106) – Sponsored by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), would establish a grant program to support schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine in underserved areas. The bill would authorize grants to institutions for the establishment of schools of medicine or branch campuses in areas where no other accredited medical schools exist and where there is a health professional shortage.
Veto Your Visa Act (H.R. 2204) – Sponsored by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY), requires institutions of higher education to immediately report to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) if they become aware that a student on an Exchange Visitor or Academic Student nonimmigrant visa has participated in or endorsed activities in support of a foreign terrorist organization. It would also direct the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of a student if they have supported a foreign terrorist organization.
Hearings This Week
On March 26, at a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing, Indiana Senator Jim Banks emphasized the growing threats posed by China and Russia and the need to modernize U.S. defense capabilities in response. He voiced support for the SLCM-N (Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile – Nuclear), citing its importance in regional deterrence and nuclear posture. Banks also pressed military leaders on accelerating hypersonic weapons development—highlighting Indiana's own Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center as a leader in this field—and stressed the strategic value of updating the B-52 bomber fleet with new Rolls Royce engines built in Indiana, noting their improved range, speed, and durability. You can watch the hearing here.
On March 27, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a full committee hearing titled “Antisemitic Disruptions on Campus: Ensuring Safe Learning Environments for All Students.” Indiana Senator Jim Banks, a member of the committee, participated in the hearing. Senator Jim Banks expressed concern about foreign influence on U.S. college campuses, highlighting a report that China donated over $175 million to American universities in the past year. He questioned potential links between the Chinese Communist Party and student groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, pointing to what he called a "Red-Green Alliance" between radical leftist and Islamist movements. Sen. Banks also criticized the activist group Code Pink for promoting pro-CCP and anti-Israel narratives and called for a federal investigation into its activities. A recording of the hearing may be found on the HELP Committee website.
Executive Branch Activities of Interest
Executive Order Calls for Closure of Department of Education
On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) to dismantle the Department of Education. The EO may be found here.
The EO directs the Secretary of Education to:
- take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of ED and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely; and
- ensure that programs or activities receiving any remaining ED funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology.
In a press conference, President Trump said that he is committed to preserving some of the Department’s programs, citing funding for children with disabilities and special needs and Pell Grants as examples. “They’re going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them,” President Trump said, referring to what he called the department’s core necessities. While the department cannot be formally closed without an act of Congress, the administration has begun redirecting key functions — including plans to reassign student loans to the Small Business Administration and student disability services to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Columbia Responds to Administration Demands
The Trump administration called Columbia University’s recent policy changes a “promising first step” after previously suspending $400 million in federal grants and contracts over concerns about antisemitic harassment tied to pro-Palestinian protests. Following a letter outlining nine demands related to campus protest rules and academic oversight, Columbia announced disciplinary reforms, new campus security hires, and the creation of a vice provost role to oversee regional studies, including a review of Middle East-focused programs. While the administration has not confirmed if formal negotiations to restore funding will begin, it praised Columbia’s actions as helping to combat antisemitism and restore academic focus.
New State Department Determination Expands Foreign Affairs Exemption Under the Administrative Procedure Act
On Friday, March 14, the State Department published a notice in the Federal Register concerning a determination from Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the foreign affairs functions of the United States. Secretary Rubio declared that all federal efforts related to border control, immigration, and cross-border transactions fall under the foreign affairs function exemption of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This determination could significantly impact rulemaking and adjudications by agencies like the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, allowing these agencies to issue new immigration and border-related regulations without public notice and comment.
Judicial Branch Activities of Interest
Lawsuits Challenge Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education
This week, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the NAACP filed lawsuits in federal courts in Maryland and Massachusetts, arguing the administration's actions represent an unlawful attempt to “dismantle the Department by executive fiat.” The complaints cite mass layoffs, canceled contracts, and the proposed transfer of key functions — including oversight of student loans and disability protections — as violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional separation of powers.