From the Office of the Chancellor

As I’ve described previously, proposals to dramatically reduce funding at the National Institutes of Health and efforts to cap indirect cost recovery for federal research remain two serious challenges facing WashU. However, I’m encouraged by recent developments among a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who are standing in support of NIH and the importance of university-based research.

As we prepare to begin the new academic year in the coming weeks, I want to share an important update regarding our university budget, including a final decision about the FY26 merit increase.

As you are likely aware, major federal legislation (H.R. 1) was signed into law over the holiday weekend. It will be months or maybe even years before we fully understand how the new law will impact higher education broadly. But I want to share with you what we know at this time about the implications for WashU.

I’m writing to provide you with an update on the developing situation at the federal level as policymakers consider actions that could significantly impact higher education. It’s important for you, as members of our WashU community, to stay informed and to understand how you can get involved. 

The past few months have been a challenging time for American higher education. Our colleges and universities are in the national spotlight and under scrutiny on a number of fronts, including how we conduct research, how we support our communities, and even how we educate our students.