Governmental Affairs Updates from AAVMC

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Fall 2025

Welcome to AAVMC Advocacy Insights, formerly known as The Advocate. This is still the newsletter you subscribed to and the content you enjoyed previously is still available. We’ve given our newsletter a new name to reflect our evolving content better.

Federal Government Shuts Down, Employees Furloughed

On October 1, the federal government shut down due to the lapse in funding for appropriations or passage of a continuing resolution. It is unclear how long this shutdown may last but the impact could be long-lasting. The administration plans to lay off thousands of federal employees, without any plans to restore those positions when the shutdown ends. For AAVMC and our members, this means that federal employees at key agencies—such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Education, as well as congressional offices—will be furloughed for an undetermined period. Read more

Major Increase in H-1B Visa Fees Impacts International Faculty Hiring

Effective September 21, the fee for H-1B visa petitions increased to $100,000. This dramatic rise will significantly impact AAVMC member institutions working to recruit international faculty. Some members of Congress are already advocating for exemptions for physicians and medical school faculty.

AAVMC is collaborating with other health professions education organizations to request a blanket exemption. The final decision rests with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and it remains unclear whether any exemptions will be granted. Read more

DVMs Reclassified as Professional, Eligible for Higher Loan Cap

The U.S. Department of Education held two days of discussion on new classifications for professional degrees. DVM degrees were appropriately classified as professional degrees (and therefore eligible for the higher student loan cap of $200,000). AAVMC also joined other members of the Federated Association of Schools of the Health Professions in sending a letter to the department asking for a broader interpretation of this category, as it is important for a One Health approach to maintain interprofessional activities. Read more

AAVMC Pushes Back on Proposed Caps to Student Loans and Indirect Research Costs

AAVMC signed onto two larger community letters to preserve a previous student loan limit exemption for health professions and to block the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from imposing future research cost caps.

AAVMC joined with community organizations to request that the U.S. Department of Education allow additional unsubsidized student loans beyond the current cap of $200,000 contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Read more

In the second letter, AAVMC joined the Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs to reform how indirect research costs are calculated to avoid the arbitrary caps the administration has proposed. This effort also includes putting specific language into legislation endorsing these ideas and prohibiting OMB from attempting to institute additional caps in the future on federal support for research costs. Read more

White House Asks Universities to Revise Policies for Preferential Access

The White House sent a 10-point memo to nine universities on October 1 asking them to revise their policies for preferential treatment. The "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" memo outlines requirements for universities to meet to receive benefits from the federal government, including “substantial and meaningful federal grants.” While this was sent to only nine universities, it is expected to be used as a template for further federal relationships with higher education institutions. Read more

AAVMC Joins HABRI to Champion Pets' Role in Human Wellbeing

Kevin Cain, AAVMC Senior Director for Governmental Affairs, at Pet Night reception.

AAVMC was proud to sponsor Pet Week on Capitol Hill in September, hosted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. The event highlighted the vital role pets play in human health and wellbeing, helping inform lawmakers about key policy issues.

Throughout the week, experts presented on topics including the health benefits of service animals, pet-inclusive housing policies, and innovative uses of AI to help reunite lost pets with their families.

Advocacy Letters

AAVMC works closely with organizations interested in advancing academic veterinary medicine, food security, and public health. The letters below reflect some of that recent activity.

AAVMC Governmental Affairs

Contact Kevin Cain, AAVMC Senior Director for Governmental Affairs, with any comments, questions, or suggestions about our program.

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AAVMC strives to create a culture of diversity and inclusion in every dimension of academic veterinary medicine. To foster this goal, the photographs and illustrations in our communications programs are aspirational, and do not necessarily reflect the levels of diversity and inclusion that currently exist.