Trump-Allied Universities Spend Millions on Lobbying to Regain Federal Funding

President Donald Trump's administration has intensified its efforts to exert control over higher education, targeting several elite colleges and universities with canceled federal funding. These schools have responded by hiring Trump-allied lobbyists and lobbying firms in Washington, resulting in a significant spike in lobbying expenses. A CNN analysis of federal lobbying disclosures found that Trump's higher education targets have together spent 122% more in lobbying expenses in Q2 of 2025 compared with last year. Nine of the 14 institutions more than doubled their spending since last year.

Key Takeaways:

• The University of Michigan and Brown University were among the lowest spenders on lobbying for most of 2024, but reported significant increases in 2025, with the University of Michigan spending 388% more and Brown University spending 286% more.
• The University of California system has spent more than $2 million on lobbyists this year alone, making it the leading spender among targeted universities.
• Northwestern University has spent nearly $1.4 million on lobbyists, and Columbia reported upwards of $1 million in lobbying expenses.
• Hiring lobbyists has become a "cost of doing business" for universities, said Jodie Ferise, a higher education attorney and former lobbyist.
• Internal lobbyists have been the primary means of lobbying for most universities, with the University of Michigan being the exception.
• Several universities have hired lobbyists with close Trump ties, including Brian Ballard's Ballard Partners, Daniel Murphy's BGR Government Affairs, and Miller Strategies' Jeffrey Miller.

Statistics:

• Trump's higher education targets have spent 122% more in lobbying expenses in Q2 of 2025 compared with last year.
• Nine of the 14 institutions have more than doubled their spending since last year.
• The University of California system has spent over $2 million on lobbyists this year alone.
• Northwestern University has spent nearly $1.4 million on lobbyists.
• Columbia has reported upwards of $1 million in lobbying expenses.
• The University of Michigan spent 388% more in lobbying expenses in 2025 compared to 2024.
• Brown University spent 286% more in lobbying expenses in 2025 compared to 2024.

Sources:

• CNN analysis of federal lobbying disclosures
• Interview with Jodie Ferise, higher education attorney and former lobbyist
• University of Michigan
• Brown University
• University of California
• Northwestern University
• Columbia University