This is the second story in a three-part series about Duke’s lobbying arm. The first article broke down the numbers behind Duke’s lobbying spending, and a forthcoming installment will explore Duke’s relationship with outside firms.
In a year where policies related to research funding, student aid, DEI and higher education governance seem to always be on the Congress floor, Duke’s relationship with the federal government has intensified — especially through lobbying.
“There are so many ways in which the University and our interests are connected to the federal government,” explained Chris Simmons, vice president for government relations. In his words, Duke “depend[s] on the federal government to function as an institution.”…