Located steps from the U.S. Capitol at the Hall of the States, the Office of Federal Relations represents the University of Washington to both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, participating on behalf of UW in a variety of national forums and advocating for UW priorities. The office also serves as a portal for the federal government and national organizations to the UW and as an access point for UW leadership and staff to our nation’s capital. Through regular reports and visits with campus personnel, Federal Relations staff provide timely information about national trends, opportunities and policy developments.

LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES

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  Jim O’Neill nominated as NSF director

  March 3, 2026

  President Trump has nominated Jim O’Neill to serve as Director of the National Science Foundation. His name was among a list of nominations sent to the Senate yesterday morning. O’Neill was removed from his position as deputy secretary of HHS last month as part of a broader restructuring, which also saw Jay Bhattacharya named acting…

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  Senate HELP committee to vote on key bills

  February 19, 2026

   On Thursday, February 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will vote on several significant bills regarding access to quality education and health care. The bills under consideration include: S. 1602, Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act S. 1558, Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 S. 3747, Home School…

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  Jay Bhattacharya named acting CDC director

  February 18, 2026

  Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the NIH, is set to become acting director of the CDC, according to administration officials. He will continue to run the NIH, serving both positions until President Trump appoints a permanent CDC director that gets confirmed by the Senate. Bhattacharya will replace Jim O’Neill, who was removed last week…

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