Good morning,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of Missouri System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.
If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.
Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter: @UMGovRelations
Capitol Hill News
House and Senate negotiators continue to work toward a final FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, with House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R AL) indicating that compromise text is unlikely to be released until early December due to ongoing negotiations and a topline gap between the House and Senate bills.
The top four appropriations leaders in Congress are set to meet for the first time since the partial shutdown ended to begin work on the next FY26 spending package ahead of the new January 30 funding deadline. Following enactment of a new continuing resolution and funding package that reopened the government and prevents federal reductions in force through January 30.
The U.S. Department of Education announced that several grant programs will be transferred to other federal agencies under new interagency agreements. The Department of Labor will assume responsibility for most postsecondary grant programs; the Department of Health and Human Services will administer the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program; and the Department of State will oversee International Education and Foreign Language Studies, including Title VI and Fulbright Hays. ED states that the transition is intended to streamline activities, reduce administrative burdens, and refocus programs to better serve students, though the full impact of these changes remains unclear.
Bipartisan Investigation Reveals How the CCP Manipulates the Critical Minerals Market
The Select Committee on the CCP – November 12, 2025
The House Select Committee on the CCP released a bipartisan investigative report, Predatory Pricing: How the CCP Manipulates Global Mineral Prices to Maintain Its Dominance, finding that Beijing has used tens of billions of dollars in subsidies, zero interest loans, and state controlled price reporting to undercut global competitors and secure dominance across critical mineral supply chains. The report warns that China’s new rare earth export licensing regime is a “loaded gun” pointed at the U.S. economy and recommends consolidating federal critical minerals financing under a single coordinating authority, strengthening tools to counter unfairly priced imports, improving federal price discovery, creating a Strategic Resources Reserve, deepening coordination with allies, and supporting U.S. mining, processing, and magnet manufacturing through targeted incentives and financing.
Federal News
US Department of War – November 17, 2025
Under Secretary of War released a streamlined list of six Critical Technology Areas that will guide future defense research investments. The updated priorities emphasize applied artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, contested logistics, quantum and battlefield information dominance, scaled directed energy, and scaled hypersonics. By narrowing from fourteen to six focus areas, the Department aims to accelerate the delivery of applied technologies and maintain U.S. military advantage in increasingly contested and technologically complex environments.
How government leaders can balance the pros and cons of data center development
Route Fifty – November 14, 2025
Policy and partnerships with tech companies can give state and local leaders a lever to ensure data centers are developed responsibly and sustainable. The demand for data centers continues to grow as government and tech leaders turn to artificial intelligence to improve daily operations and services.
Healthcare News
CMS Issues Guidance to Strengthen Oversight of Medicaid Financing
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – November 14, 2025
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new preliminary guidance on November 14 to tighten federal oversight of Medicaid financing in response to changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The guidance outlines new limits on health care related taxes that states use to finance their share of Medicaid costs and closes a longstanding “loophole” in these arrangements, with CMS projecting the changes will save federal taxpayers roughly $200 billion over 10 years. The letter to states details restrictions on new or increased provider taxes, transition periods for states that must unwind noncompliant financing structures, and next steps for bringing state programs into alignment with the new statutory requirements. CMS leaders framed the move as part of a broader effort to restore the federal state partnership in Medicaid and ensure dollars are spent transparently and in service of beneficiaries.
Lawmakers propose grant program to boost AI training in medical schools
NextGov – November 19, 2025
Lawmakers in the House have introduced new legislation to create a grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services aimed at boosting artificial intelligence literacy in medical education. The bill would authorize $1 million annually from FY 2026 through FY 2030, with individual medical schools and training institutions eligible for grants of up to $100,000 to support AI focused coursework and training for medical students, residents, and faculty. Funds could be used to develop or expand AI related curricula, with participating schools required to report how AI education was integrated, how many learners completed at least one funded course, and which external partners, if any, were involved in delivering the programming.
Congressional Calendar
Reviewed 2025-11-24