Senate action this week rejected sweeping cuts proposed by the administration and advanced bipartisan measures that would provide $188.3 billion for scientific research — about 21% more than the White House requested. The package passed the House 397-28 and cleared the Senate 82-15 before heading to the president, signaling bipartisan support for federal science spending. The legislative outcome comes as the higher-education sector faces consolidation and closures: the California College of the Arts announced plans to close in 2027 and transfer campus assets to Vanderbilt, Oregon regulators considered institutional integration, and Hampshire College’s audit flagged refinancing risks. The Senate’s vote reduces near-term pressure on university research programs and grants, but institutions still face enrollment shifts and structural budget challenges. Also noted: a 5.9% year‑over‑year decline in graduate international enrollments in fall 2025, underscoring how demographic and policy changes complicate campus finances even as research budgets are defended.