Research universities and higher‑education coalitions spent heavily on lobbying in 2025 to shape legislation on financial aid, international student policy, AI governance, and visa restrictions. Institutions leveraged relationships with members of Congress to fend off restrictions on international students, influence financial‑aid negotiations and press for sector exemptions to proposed H‑1B fees. The spending surge reflected institutions’ need to protect research collaborations and campus funding amid aggressive federal policy shifts. Lobbying for higher education now spans traditional appropriations work and policy defense against regulatory proposals that could affect operations and enrollment. For university executives, the trend underscores the strategic role of government relations teams as front‑line defenders against sudden policy changes that can affect grants, hiring and student mobility.