Universities and research institutions spent heavily on federal lobbying in 2025, targeting policy fights over international student rules, financial aid, AI governance and visa fees, while legal and advocacy leaders urged campuses to coordinate responses to government pressure. A sector analysis shows increased investment in Washington to shape funding, research and regulatory outcomes; simultaneously, legal experts and higher‑ed leaders called for coalitions to defend free speech, academic freedom and institutional autonomy amid aggressive regulatory actions. The twin strategies—lobbying and legal coalition building—signal a coordinated sector response to an intensified policy environment that touches admissions, campus programs and international partnerships.