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Good morning,  

The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the ӣ������ 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.

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Capitol Hill News

Government Shutdown:

This week marks Day 38 of the longest government shutdown in American history, and there is still no clear path to reopening federal agencies. The Senate will vote yet again today on the House stopgap bill, which Democrats plan to block as they push for concessions on health care, federal layoffs, and funding issues. Bipartisan discussions continue, but both chambers remain far apart, and the House has not met in 49 days. The shutdown’s impact is escalating, including a court fight over SNAP funding for more than 40 million Americans and significant cuts to flight capacity that will trigger thousands of daily cancellations. Senate Democrats argue they are in a stronger negotiating position after recent election wins and remain united on holding the line, even as some members express discomfort with using a shutdown to force policy outcomes. Republicans and Democrats are quietly exchanging policy language on Affordable Care Act subsidies, meaning federal workers are left facing another week of uncertainty.

Important to note, the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced that the state has received official guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA-FNS) allowing partial funding to issue November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The department will work closely with their EBT vendor to ensure benefits are issued promptly.

Resources:

The federal government entered a shutdown on October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. ET after Congress and the White House were unable to agree on a continuing resolution. Non-essential federal operations are affected. Helpful resources for institutions:

• AAMC guidance on anticipated impacts:
• White House OMB agency contingency plans:
• OMB FAQs on government shutdowns:

Punchbowl News – November 6, 2025

The GAIN AI Act was included in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act but not in the House version. The measure, which didn’t go through the committee process, would give American buyers of artificial intelligence chips first dibs before the advanced technology is exported to China and other adversarial nations. The House and Senate Armed Services committees are still hammering out the NDAA’s final text. They hope to reach a compromise around Thanksgiving, which likely means there will be a heated lobbying fight over GAIN AI for the next few weeks.

E&E News by Politico – November 5, 2025

If the House Transportation and Infrastructure chair gets his way, next year’s highway bill will include a long-sought deal on permitting reform and new annual fees on electric and hybrid vehicles. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) laid out his vision for a conservative-leaning transportation package, announcing that he expects his committee to unveil the legislation early next year and for the House to pass it in the spring, putting it on a similar timeline to that of Senate negotiators.

Doc Marshall US Senator for Kansas – November 5, 2025

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), reintroduced The Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, legislation that would give livestock and poultry producers greater access to consumers nationwide. The DIRECT Act would create a narrow exemption to allow small producers and butchers greater flexibility for interstate sales without compromising food safety or jeopardizing market access in international trade.

Federal News

AP News – November 6, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration announced that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown. The affected airports in more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the U.S., including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities — such as New York, Houston and Chicago — multiple airports will be affected. The FAA is imposing the flight reductions to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the government shutdown and have been increasingly calling off work. The move also comes as the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Democrats in Congress to end the shutdown. Controllers already have missed one full paycheck and are scheduled to again receive nothing next week as the shutdown drags on. The FAA has been delaying flights at times when airports or its other facilities are short on controllers.

The Wall Street Journal – November 4, 2025

It isn’t just rare earths. Three products show how Beijing built supply-chain dominance that can impose pain on trading partners. China has demonstrated it can weaponize its control over global supply chains by constricting the flow of critical rare-earth minerals. President Trump went to the negotiating table when the lack of Chinese materials threatened American production, and he reached a truce last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping that both sides say will ease the flow of rare earths. But Beijing’s tools go beyond these critical minerals. Three other industries where China has a chokehold—lithium-ion batteries, mature chips and pharmaceutical ingredients—give an idea of what the U.S. would need to do to free itself fully from vulnerability.

Fox News – November 4, 2025

When "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams recently made a public plea for help accessing a life-extending cancer treatment, the story drew national attention — and sparked some questions about the drug itself. On Sunday, Adams issued a request to President Donald Trump, via X, to help him access a newly approved drug called Pluvicto. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to Adams’ viral post, asking how to reach him. Shortages of the radioactive particles in Pluvicto have led to supply chain shortages in the past, which have since improved, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the U.S., following lung cancer.

First Alert – November 5, 2025

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will transfer $59 million of an estimated $180 million to support recovery efforts in St. Louis after the May 16 tornado. Days after the tornado, Schmitt sent a letter to President Trump, requesting immediate action on Governor Mike Kehoe’s disaster declarations. President Trump approved individual and public assistance in June.

US Department of Energy – November 4, 2025

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $625 million in funding to renew its five National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers, originally established under the National Quantum Initiative Act signed into law by President Trump in December 2018. The DOE is aligning its quantum research enterprise with national priorities, focusing resources on advancing critical R&D across the American QIS, strengthening the quantum innovation ecosystem, accelerating discoveries that power next-generation technologies, and securing American leadership in quantum computing, hardware, and applications. Total funding is $625 million for awards lasting up to 5 years in duration, with $125 million in Fiscal Year 2025 dollars and outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations. The list of awards and more information can be found on the QIS initiative homepage. More information about the centers can be found on NQISRC.org.

The Hill – November 1, 2025
A new opinion piece argues that expanding advanced nuclear power is essential for strengthening U.S. military readiness and national resilience. The author contends that small modular reactors and nuclear micro grids could protect bases from grid disruptions, reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains, and give the U.S. a strategic edge as China, Russia, and other adversaries accelerate their own nuclear investments. The piece highlights the role that research universities, federal agencies, and industry partners can play in developing next generation reactor technology and securing the domestic supply of critical minerals needed for nuclear fuel. For policymakers, the article positions nuclear energy as a dual benefit strategy that supports national defense while advancing long term energy security.

2025 Congressional Calendar