Why It Matters

Florida State University reported $105,000 in federal lobbying activity for the first quarter of 2026, continuing a pattern of sustained engagement in Washington that has grown considerably over the past two years.

Universities are navigating one of the more turbulent federal policy environments in recent memory. Research funding, higher education regulation, and national security oversight are all in flux. FSU's continued investment in federal lobbying reflects the stakes involved for a major public research institution dependent on federal grants and appropriations. The university's lobbying activity spans research infrastructure, energy policy, defense technology, and higher education finance - a broad portfolio that mirrors the range of federal decisions that could affect its operations and funding.

By the Numbers

The first-quarter 2026 in-house disclosure filing reports $105,000 in lobbying expenditures. That matches the amount reported in both the third quarter 2025 and fourth quarter 2025 disclosures, suggesting the in-house lobbying budget has stabilized at that level after a significant jump from the $38,000 per quarter reported through the first quarter of 2025.

FSU's in-house lobbying is handled by Josh Duncan, who has filed eight disclosures on behalf of the university since mid-2024, totaling $565,000 in reported expenditures. Duncan previously served as a legislative assistant for Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and as a research assistant for the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

This first-quarter 2026 filing is one of at least three FSU lobbying disclosures active this quarter. Two external firms also lobby on the university's behalf. American Defense International Inc. filed a separate first-quarter 2026 disclosure covering hypersonic and advanced technology research, with lobbyists Van Hipp Jr. and Patrick Large. Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. has also represented FSU in recent quarters, covering issues including quantum research, the National Science Foundation's Magnet Lab, and Name, Image, and Likeness legislation.

The Agenda

The first-quarter 2026 in-house disclosure filing does not list specific issues or legislation lobbied. The specific issues field is blank. However, prior disclosures filed by Duncan provide a window into the range of topics FSU has pursued.

Recent in-house filings have covered:

  • FY2026 appropriations
  • NIH grant cancellations
  • Name, Image, and Likeness pending legislation
  • Rare earth element research funding through the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
  • Golden Dome funding opportunities
  • Accreditation and financial aid
  • The SCORE Act (HR 4312)
  • Nuclear research opportunities
  • National Energy Dominance Council funding
  • MAHA initiatives

The external firm disclosures narrow in on specific areas. American Defense International has consistently focused on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act and hypersonic research. Van Scoyoc Associates has covered NSF's Magnet Lab and quantum research, in addition to Name, Image, and Likeness issues.

Broader Context

Several developments in the past year provide context for FSU's sustained lobbying presence.

On the research funding front, Rep. Neal P. Dunn (R-FL-2) announced in February 2026 that he had secured $4.2 million for FSU in the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, specifically for a Hypersonic Test Facility. Dunn had flagged the same funding in August 2025, describing FSU as "a hub for research and innovation."

On the national security and research oversight front, a March 26, 2026 hearing before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development examined foreign espionage and research security at U.S. universities. While the hearing focused on the University of Florida, it addressed issues directly relevant to FSU and other Florida public research institutions, including foreign gift reporting requirements, international agreement reviews, and restrictions on partnerships with foreign countries of concern. Florida statute already requires universities to screen research hires and report foreign contracts, but federal legislation in this space continues to evolve.

The broader higher education lobbying environment has been active. Peer institutions have been engaged in federal research funding, endowment tax proposals, student visa policy, and research security legislation.

Competitive Landscape

FSU is not alone in its lobbying posture. American Defense International's work for FSU on hypersonic research overlaps with a broader set of defense-adjacent university lobbying efforts. Van Scoyoc Associates, which also represents FSU, is one of the more active higher education lobbying firms in Washington. The firm's work for FSU on NSF's Magnet Lab and quantum research reflects a competitive environment in which universities are actively pursuing federal research infrastructure funding.

The Bottom Line

FSU's first-quarter 2026 in-house lobbying disclosure filing reflects a university that has significantly scaled its federal engagement over the past two years, moving from $38,000 per quarter to $105,000, while maintaining relationships with two external lobbying firms. The blank issues field in this quarter's in-house filing makes it difficult to assess any shift in priorities, but the university's prior disclosures and the congressional activity around its funding suggest continued focus on research appropriations, defense technology, and higher education policy.

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