The COGR June 6-7, 2024 meeting focused on the complex legislative environment facing the higher education and research sectors in the context of the 2024 U.S. elections. Speakers highlighted heightened political polarization, with a Congress characterized more by factions than cohesive parties, narrow legislative margins, and diminishing public confidence in major institutions, including higher education. Key challenges for campuses this fall include disruptions in the federal student aid process (FAFSA), evolving Title IX requirements, new Department of Labor overtime rules, and the potential for campus protests, all requiring significant administrative adaptation.
From a policy standpoint, Congress remains sharply focused on issues of foreign influence, institutional endowments, and potential new restrictions on federal research funding. Notable legislative proposals under consideration target research partnerships with countries of concern, the taxation or restriction of large university endowments, and shifts in the allocation of funds for research and development (R&D). Budgetary analysis revealed modest declines in federal support for basic and applied research for FY 2024, with a more pronounced shift of resources toward defense-related R&D. The outlook for FY 2025 remains uncertain, with varied proposed changes across major science and technology agencies. The meeting underscored the need for higher education institutions and research organizations to remain vigilant and engaged as they navigate a highly dynamic and partisan federal landscape.
