Senate lawmakers advanced bipartisan measures that would provide $188.3 billion for scientific research, rejecting the Trump administration’s proposed deep cuts in a strong bipartisan vote. The package passed the Senate by wide margins and had earlier cleared the House, signaling continued federal support for university-led research. Despite the funding win, the higher-education sector remains fragile: the California College of the Arts announced plans to close in 2027, Hampshire College faces renewed solvency risks, and state-level consolidation advisories (e.g., Oregon) are prompting talks of mergers and integrations. Graduate international enrollment fell 5.9% in fall 2025, intensifying financial pressures on research and tuition-dependent institutions.