Why It Matters
The American Physical Society lobbied on the duration of status as the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule on July 17. The rule specifies fixed admission periods and an extension-of-stay procedure for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign information media.
By the Numbers
The society’s lobbying disclosure, signed Oct. 27, reported $320,999 in in-house expenses for the third quarter, up $8,319 from the second quarter and up $103,701 from the same quarter in 2025.
The third-quarter amount was also the society’s total across registrants, compared with $312,680 in the preceding quarter and $247,298 in the third quarter of 2025. The 2025 total included $30,000 reported by outside firm Lot Sixteen LLC.
The in-house team comprised Mark Elsesser, Charlotte Selton, Julie Davis, and Corey Feuer.
Other disclosed lobbying topics included:
- Science funding and federal award guidance.
- Physics education, teacher development, and the RESEARCHER Act.
- Energy research, climate change, and research security.
Broader Context
NAFSA: Association of International Educators called the visa rule “misguided and unnecessary,” arguing it would intrude on academic decisions and weaken U.S. higher education’s competitiveness. On Aug. 18, NAFSA and a coalition of higher-education groups and unions announced a federal lawsuit challenging it.
The society also lobbied on National Quantum Initiative reauthorization and supported a Senate bill addressing it. The society said the measure would support fundamental physics research and workforce development. The Quantum Industry Coalition, IBM, Microsoft, and the Association of American Universities also backed the legislation.
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) sponsored the Senate bill, which the Senate Commerce Committee reported unanimously on April 14. In the House, Rep. Randy K. Weber (R-TX) introduced a companion that the House Science Committee ordered reported with amendments on April 29. The Senate proposal would reauthorize quantum research and education initiatives and create research centers, a workforce hub, and testbeds.
The Bottom Line
NAFSA and a coalition of higher-education associations and unions announced filing a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule ending Duration of Status.
The society’s lobbying operation shifted from in-house and outside representation in the third quarter of 2025 to an in-house filing this quarter.
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