A group of colleges and universities has backed Harvard University in an amicus brief challenging the Trump administration’s moves to cut large amounts of federal grant funding, warning that unilateral grant termination would damage scientific progress. Separately, lawmakers and higher-education leaders are reacting to a reported proposal that would impose a $100,000 fee on international students to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which can allow eligible graduates to work in the U.S. for up to three years. The reports cite concerns that a fee of that size could deter international enrollment. The OPT issue also follows a prior court decision striking down a proposed $100,000 fee for the H-1B visa program, leaving compliance and admissions uncertainty in the spotlight. The Senate panel also advanced bills that target how the U.S. Department of Education manages responsibilities and proposes changes to student-level data collection, including the College Transparency Act, which would expand federal access to outcome data.