[Ucrfacultyandstaff] Washington Report

[UCR Communications]

Washington Report, Sept. 29, 2025

An ongoing look at federal government impacts on higher education, the
University of California system, and UC Riverside.

Congress has until October 1 to sign legislation to fund the federal
government. If it does not, the government will function with only limited
operations. Before October 1, Congress may opt to pass a continuing
resolution, or CR, which will continue to fund the government at the
previous funding rate for a set duration. Congress has averaged five CRs
per year since 1998.

The federal administration issued a proclamation
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workers/>
on September 19 that seeks to restrict the entry of H-1B specialty
occupation workers into the U.S. unless employers pay a $100,000 fee per
petition, with limited national-interest exemptions. While language of the
proclamation is being studied to determine its impact on pending and
approved H-1B petitions, it is likely the new restriction may discourage
international students from studying in the U.S.

Updates from Partner Organizations

The American Council on Education
<https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Government-Shutdowns-and-Higher-Education.aspx>
discusses impacts to higher education from a prospective government
shutdown, primarily to federal research funding — a dynamic complicated by
the likelihood the federal administration will not consider grant
continuation a priority.
<https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Government-Shutdowns-and-Higher-Education.aspx>

UC Riverside

The Research Impact page <https://researchimpact.ucr.edu>
<https://researchimpact.ucr.edu/>this week features UCR’s research related
to agriculture, including creating flood-tolerant rice, fighting the
bacterial disease that threatens California citrus, and protecting bees —
our most important pollinators. The weekly updates to the Research Impact
page are part of a systemwide campaign to spotlight how federal research
dollars lead to world-changing discoveries at UC campuses.

University of California

The Speak Up for Science campaign
<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-launches-speak-science-campaign-critical-research-faces-unprecedented-federal-threats>
seeks to corral support for UC research funding among stakeholder groups.
Write your congressional representative, advocate for the UCs to your
neighbors, and/or download a “Speak Up for Science” Zoom background.

The Stand Up for UC campaign
<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved/stand-up-for-uc> asks
UC supporters to spread the word about the impactful research funded by
federal dollars.
<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved/stand-up-for-uc>

Resources

>From The Chronicle of Higher Education: Trump’s Higher-Ed Agenda tracker
<https://www.chronicle.com/article/tracking-trumps-higher-ed-agenda>

>From Pew Research Center: Americans view international students positively
<https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/09/17/americans-tend-to-view-international-students-positively-though-some-support-limitations/>

In the Media

Politico: White House shutdown summit fails to produce a deal
<https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/29/white-house-shutdown-summit-fails-to-produce-a-deal-00585426>

Bloomberg: Here’s what Happens When the US Government Shuts Down
<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-27/us-government-shutdown-potential-impacts-on-air-travel-social-security?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc1OTE2MDM0MCwiZXhwIjoxNzU5NzY1MTQwLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUMzI1WjlHT1QwSkwwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiI4QkE4MTZCNEVFNDk0RTZEOUNDNjUxQTU0RThDQTM4OCJ9.lsnd6vXdixbUUksuTpl7QUZ0Mg7FmOwVcNxgAqGk1fo>

Associated Press: Judge orders Trump administration to restore $500 million
in federal grant funding to UCLA
<https://apnews.com/article/ucla-preliminary-injunction-grants-trump-daf288c425c5652bb53d4b68442b4af7>

Chronicle of Higher Education: $500 Million in Grant Funding Should Be
Restored to UC System, Judge Rules
<https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-trump-agenda/500-million-in-grant-funding-should-be-restored-to-uc-system-judge-rules>

Politico: UCLA chancellor warns of ‘red lines we cannot cross’ in
negotiations with Trump administration
<https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/25/ucla-chancellor-warns-of-red-lines-we-cannot-cross-in-negotiations-with-trump-administration-00581819>

Reuters: Trump administration places new restrictions on Harvard, citing
financial concerns
<https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-education-dept-raises-financial-responsibility-concerns-about-harvard-2025-09-19/>
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