A message from the Leadership Team on Federal Actions

May 16, 2025

Dear URI Faculty, Staff, and Students:

As part of our ongoing effort to keep you informed, we’re sharing updates on the federal budget process, as well as news and policy resources related to higher education.

But first, to those in our community who are graduating or participating in commencement ceremonies this weekend, congratulations!

Federal budget process

As part of the comprehensive federal budget process, Congress now is in the phase of reviewing and determining appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Congress holds the power of the purse, meaning it is the branch of government that controls funding levels and priorities for federal agencies. 

Congress is reviewing the Trump administration’s proposals, including those to cut science and higher education programs. As part of this process, the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees will hold hearings where cabinet secretaries advocate for and answer questions from representatives and senators about the administration’s proposals. These hearings will be crucial in determining whether Congress supports or rejects the proposed cuts to programs.

After the hearings, the committees will deliberate, revise the proposals, and eventually draft their own appropriations bills, which will be debated and voted on by the full House and Senate. The final version of these bills must then be reconciled and approved by both chambers before being signed into law by the president. This process will ultimately determine the funding levels and program priorities for the next fiscal year, and at this stage it is difficult to know what the final legislation will include. 

Ongoing communication

Over the past several months, we have made a concerted effort to keep the community informed by providing regular updates and readily sharing important information. 

As the spring semester comes to a close, we will reduce the frequency of our communications. However, the Leadership Team on Federal Actions will continue to meet regularly, and the Federal Actions Updates website will be updated with new information. We also will ensure that we communicate directly with the community on any matters that are timely or significant. 

Additionally, our close work with our congressional delegation, other elected officials, and relevant professional associations to stay aligned on key issues and advocate for higher education and our shared mission will continue without pause.

Additional resources

For those in our community who want to closely track updates on key issues, policy changes, and news relevant to higher education, we encourage you to visit the news sites of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the American Council on Education. Both associations also offer higher education newsletters to which you can subscribe.

In closing

As we prepare to celebrate our graduates in ceremonies this weekend and transition into the summer months, we want to take a moment to wish all of you well. 

We are deeply grateful for the many ways you embody and advance our mission and foundational values. Your commitment to URI, as a public land-grant institution; to our inclusive community and each member who makes it vibrant and strong; and to the work you do here, as students, faculty, and staff, makes a real and positive impact on people and communities—both here in Rhode Island and around the globe. 

Thank you.