AAU joined ACE and 35 other higher education associations in sending a letter to Secretary Rubio at the U.S. Department of State to share their concerns regarding the recent announcement that new student visa interviews are being paused.
AAU and APLU express deep concern that recent management changes and the proposed FY26 budget for the National Science Foundation (NSF) could undermine U.S. scientific and technological leadership by overly narrowing the agency’s research focus and reducing its capacity for broad, foundational research, and urges congressional oversight and robust funding to preserve NSF’s mission and impact
The FY26 National Science Foundation (NSF) Senate Dear Colleague Letter urges the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to provide at least $9.9 billion for the NSF in FY26 to ensure U.S. leadership in emerging technologies and to support critical research, education, and workforce development. It emphasizes that robust NSF funding is essential for maintaining the nation’s competitiveness, security, and resilience in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
The FY26 National Science Foundation (NSF) House Dear Colleague Letter urges members of the House of Representatives to support robust funding for NSF in Fiscal Year 2026, emphasizing the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in science, technology, and innovation. The letter calls for a significant investment in NSF to advance research, support emerging technologies, and ensure America’s long-term competitiveness and security.
AAU strongly opposes numerous provisions in the current House reconciliation bill, arguing that changes to Pell Grant eligibility, loan borrowing limits, risk-sharing requirements, and new taxes on endowments and research income would harm low-income and underrepresented students, undermine university missions, and stifle vital research and innovation. AAU warns that the bill would not make college more accessible or affordable, unfairly targets leading research institutions, and could weaken the nation’s higher education and healthcare infrastructure.
AAU joined ACE and 11 other higher education associations in sending a letter to House Committee on Energy and Commerce leadership to raise concerns about "the impact of [proposed] substantial cuts to the Medicaid programs."
AAU and APLU sent a joint letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to their RFI on Deregulation, where they "recommend several areas to simplify federal regulations to increase efficiency of the U.S. scientific enterprise and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on university researchers."
AAU joined ACE and 4 other higher education associations to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Education after they announced the possible formation of negotiated rulemaking committees.
AAU joined ACE and 3 other higher education associations to send a letter to House Leadership in opposition of H.R.881, "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act," specifically in regards to the new and very broad definition of "Chinese entities of concern."
Former NSF Directors and NSB Chairs warn Congress that proposed budget and staffing cuts would undermine U.S. scientific leadership and urge a major increase in NSF funding to secure America's global competitiveness, innovation, and prosperity.