Coming Up: Nov. 12 Webinar: Funders in the Research Ecosystem: Enabling Transparency & Efficiency with ORCID (and other PIDs): https://pidforum.org/t/nov-12-webinar-funders-in-the-research-ecosystem-enabling-transparency-efficiency-with-orcid-and-other-pids/4818
11/3/25: When will this shutdown become the longest ever? Very soon. (USA Today) As of Monday, Nov. 3, the shutdown marked the second longest in history (34 days).The current stalemate continued just one day after President Donald Trump asked Democrats to abandon a push for expanded healthcare subsidies to be included in the spending agreement and vote for GOP-backed legislation to reopen the federal government.… The longest shutdown took place during Trump’s first term and lasted 35 days (December 2018 to January 2019). https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/03/longest-government-shutdown-history/87062594007/
See also: Higher Ed May Be in Trouble if the Government Is Shut Down for Much Longer (The Chronicle, COGR President Matt Owens quoted): “The longer these shutdowns go on, the more acute the problems it causes,” said Matt Owens, president of the Council on Governmental Relations. “More institutions are likely to experience lapses in funding as awards and funding increments end with no new awards or funding coming in.” https://www.chronicle.com/article/higher-ed-may-be-in-trouble-if-the-government-is-shut-down-for-much-longer
See also: An update from Capitol Hill as we approach a new government shutdown record (Federal News Network) https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2025/11/an-update-from-capitol-hill-as-we-approach-a-new-government-shutdown-record/
11/3/25: Trump Research Funding Plans: Penalize ‘Repeat Players,’ Reward Compact Signers (Inside Higher Ed) Before his administration asked universities to sign a compact in exchange for federal funding priority, the president ordered that grants shouldn’t be given “to a select group of repeat players.” Both actions could displace the use of merit in doling out research money. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/11/03/trump-funding-plans-could-harm-top-research
See also: It’s Not Enough to Say No to the Compact (Inside Higher Ed, Opinion) https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2025/11/03/its-not-enough-say-no-compact-opinion
11/3/25: ‘End of an era’: Experts warn research executive order could stifle scientific innovation (Higher Ed Dive) The recent directive gives President Donald Trump’s political appointees oversight of grant awards to ensure they align with the administration’s priorities. https://www.highereddive.com/news/research-executive-order-stifle-scientific-innovation/804392/
See also: The Next Era of the American University (The Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/11/trump-higher-education-legal/684766/
11/3/25: Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’ (Nature) From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and training opportunities that the country is losing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03575-7
11/3/25: Trump Axes Expert Panels at Historic Clip, Defying Agency Advice (Bloomberg Law) The depth of the purge is detailed in a database maintained by the General Services Administration and analyzed by Bloomberg Law. About 15% of advisory boards across the government have been formally terminated through the most recent fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to preliminary data accessed on Oct. 29. The fiscal year includes about 3 1/2 months of Joe Biden’s presidency, during which time six boards were shuttered. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-life-sciences/trump-axes-expert-panels-at-historic-clip-defying-agency-advice-53?context=search&index=5
10/31/25: How Much More Will Colleges Have to Pay to Hire Foreign Employees? (The Chronicle) Last month, President Trump announced a new $100,000 fee per H-1B hire for American employers — an attempt to dissuade them from hiring international candidates over citizens…. New guidance this month calmed the initial chaos: The fee only applies to potential H-1B employees who are outside the United States. Many of colleges’ H-1B employees are hired from within the country while on a student or other non-immigrant visa. https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-much-more-will-colleges-have-to-pay-to-hire-foreign-employees
10/29/25: Speeding Up Deregulation: Inside OIRA’s New Streamlining Memorandum (JD Supra) On October 21, 2025, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum M-25-36, Streamlining the Review of Deregulatory Actions . The directive sets shorter timelines, encourages the use of legal exemptions to bypass lengthy procedures, and reduces consultation requirements with stakeholders, signaling a renewed push by OIRA to cut regulatory red tape. While the memorandum is aimed at accelerating regulatory reform, agencies must balance the benefits of speed against the potential for reduced regulatory stability. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/speeding-up-deregulation-inside-oira-s-3704718/
