Why It Matters
The University of North Carolina System filed its second-quarter lobbying disclosure on July 27, reporting $115,000 in lobbying expenditures. The filing, however, identifies no specific legislative issues or bills.
In previous quarters, the system disclosed lobbying activity related to federal research funding, student visas and higher education legislation. The latest filing does not identify comparable priorities.
The change comes as North Carolina universities face mounting pressure on their research enterprise. UNC-Chapel Hill is navigating a $126 million reduction in federal grant funding compared with the prior fiscal year, affecting 109 research projects. The Trump administration's proposed budget includes a 41% cut to NIH funding, which could result in a projected $606 million economic loss for UNC-Chapel Hill.
The Trump administration's proposed budget includes a 41 percent reduction for the National Institutes of Health, a 57% cut to the National Science Foundation and a 24% reduction for NASA. Those agencies are major sources of research funding for universities across the country.
By the Numbers
The UNC System maintained quarterly lobbying expenditures of $115,000 across four consecutive filings, from the third quarter of 2025 through the second quarter, totaling $460,000. Elizabeth Morra, vice president for government relations, remained the system's sole registered lobbyist throughout the four-quarter period. The system has not retained an external lobbying firm. The second-quarter filing cites no legislation and lists no specific lobbying issues.
The Agenda
Previous lobbying disclosures focused on federal research funding, higher education policy and student visa issues. The latest filing does not identify specific legislative priorities despite ongoing debates over federal research funding.
The Trump administration's proposed budget seeks $44 billion in reductions across federal scientific research agencies, including a 57 percent cut to the National Science Foundation and a 24 percent reduction for NASA.
The administration also targeted international students in 2025, with 6,000 international student visas revoked. According to EAB, the visa revocations contributed to a decline in new international student enrollment during the 2025-26 academic year.
The Bottom Line
The UNC System maintained a steady level of federal lobbying spending while filing a disclosure that identifies no specific legislative issues or bills. At a time when federal research funding and international student policies remain central concerns for public universities, the filing provides little insight into the system's current federal lobbying priorities.
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