Federal Lobbying Expenditures Hold Steady for Q1
Major research universities spent at least $8.5 million on federal lobbying in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on issues like federal research funding and student financial aid. Some universities, such as Emory and the University of Washington, increased their lobbying expenditures, while others, like Northwestern and Columbia, decreased theirs.
Major research universities continue to spend heavily on federal lobbying, with at least $8.5 million spent in the first quarter of 2026. The total includes lobbying expenses among members of the Association of American Universities and is likely an undercount. Universities focused on issues like federal research funding, research reimbursement rates, and student financial aid. Emory University spent $380,000, the most of any AAU institution that reported its expenditures. The University of Washington spent $370,000. Northwestern University significantly decreased its lobbying efforts, spending $121,000 compared to $607,000 in the first quarter of 2025, after reaching an agreement with the Trump administration over frozen federal research funding.
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