Yale Surges to $370,000 in Federal Lobbying, Outspending Ivy League

BREAKING: Yale University has just announced an astonishing $370,000 in federal lobbying expenditures for the third quarter of 2025, marking its highest total this year and a significant increase from the $320,000 reported over the summer. This surge brings Yale’s total lobbying spending for the year to an impressive $890,000, positioning the university ahead of its Ivy League peers in a time of critical funding challenges.

This urgent development underscores Yale’s escalating efforts to influence federal legislation amid growing concerns over potential threats to its endowment and research funding. The university’s lobbying strategy aims to communicate the importance of higher education and Yale’s specific priorities to legislators across the political spectrum.

“The university works to communicate higher education’s impact and Yale’s mission and priorities to legislators on both sides of the aisle,” stated Richard Jacob, associate vice president for federal and state relations. “We are also sharing the ways in which Yale is addressing problems across American society.”

Yale is not just outpacing its Ivy League rivals; it has exceeded spending from six other institutions during this quarter. Columbia reported $290,000, Cornell spent $240,000, and Harvard allocated $220,000. Other schools, including Penn and Princeton, reported $200,000 and $160,000, respectively, while Dartmouth spent only $80,000.

Yale’s lobbying efforts primarily target legislation affecting taxes, student financial aid, and federal research funding. Notably, the university is responding to the Republican-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which threatens to raise the tax on endowment investment returns from 1.4% to 8% for wealthy institutions like Yale.

Since last year, Yale has ramped up its engagement with government officials, even establishing a dedicated office in Washington, D.C. Jacob emphasized that this increased interaction includes more in-person meetings between the university’s president and key government figures.

During this quarter, Yale retained the lobbying firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which has been advocating for Yale on issues related to endowment tax and free speech. Notably, Zach Deatherage, a former legislative director for New York Representative Elise Stefanik, has been lobbying on Yale’s behalf. Deatherage’s involvement follows a contentious incident in 2024, where Yale police arrested 47 pro-Palestinian student protesters, prompting criticism from Stefanik.

Additionally, Yale has employed Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for lobbying efforts focused on higher education issues. This firm has enlisted prominent lobbyists, including Evan Corcoran, a former personal attorney for Donald Trump, and veteran Republican lobbyist Marc Lampkin.

Yale’s lobbying targets include eight bills, with critical implications for university research funding. Among these is the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.” This quarter, Yale also engaged with the “Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act,” although Jacob clarified that the university has not taken a formal position on this legislation.

Looking ahead, Yale’s fourth-quarter lobbying report covering activities from October 1 through December 31, 2025, is due on January 20, 2026. As Yale continues to navigate these challenges, its proactive approach in Washington remains a key focus for both the university and its stakeholders.