Chancellor Diermeier meets with members of Congress, highlights federal partnerships at Vanderbilt’s D.C. reception

Vanderbilt's partnership with the federal government is central to the university's mission of advancing research, strengthening the workforce and expanding access to education. As national conversations about the future of higher education and research funding intensify, the university continues to play a leading role in advocating for policies that support students and research.

In late June, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier traveled to Washington, D.C., for a day of congressional meetings and to headline Vanderbilt University's congressional reception. His visit, organized by Vanderbilt's Office of Federal Relations, came at a pivotal moment as Congress considered sweeping budget and tax legislation.

Throughout the day, Diermeier advocated for policies that preserve access to higher education, enable the university to use its endowment to support students and other mission-driven activities, and sustain strong federal-university partnerships through investments in research. He shared stories and examples of Vanderbilt's impact during conversations with elected officials and their staff, highlighting how federal support translates into student success, innovative discoveries and economic growth in Tennessee and beyond.

Chancellor Diermeieradvocates for federal support on Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill, Diermeiermet with key lawmakers, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., BA'81, JD'84, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., and Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio. In these conversations, he emphasized how robust federal research funding and strong endowments are essential to the university's mission, enabling breakthrough discoveries, supporting the next generation of scientists and leaders and expanding access to higher education for students from all backgrounds.

Diermeier also pointed to Opportunity Vanderbilt, which meets 100 percent of demonstratedfinancial need without loansand provides tuition-free education for families earning less than $150,000. OpportunityVanderbilt demonstrateshow Vanderbilt leverages the endowment to provide generous scholarship support, making high-quality education affordable and accessible to a broad range of students.

Celebrating federal partnerships at Vanderbilt's congressional reception

After the meetings, Diermeierhosted the reception in the U.S. Capitol honoring members of the Tennessee congressional delegation. A signature event on Capitol Hill, Vanderbilt's congressional reception brings together the university's senior leadership with members and staff from the Tennessee congressional delegation, Vanderbilt alumni working on Capitol Hill and other strategic partners for the university's government relations work in Washington. Vanderbilt alumni Sen. John Neely Kennedy, R-La., BA'73, andRep. French Hill, R-Ark., BS'79, also attended.

Several members of Congress delivered remarks during the evening, underscoring the deep and productive collaboration between Vanderbilt and federal partners. Sen. Marsha Blackburn highlighted the excellence of Vanderbilt's Pathfinder program, which connects soldiers with university innovators to advance national security. Sen. Bill Hagerty reflected on his experience as a Vanderbilt alumnus and spoke to the impact of the university's network in shaping his own career opportunities. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., praised Vanderbilt's leadership in cybersecurity and emphasized the university's role in defending the "cyber border" through research, education and public engagement.

In his keynote, Diermeier spoke to the vital role federal partnerships play in sustaining the university's mission and national impact. He emphasized Vanderbilt's commitment to academic excellence, free expression and broad access to education, and he underscored the stakes of proposed federal policy changes affecting student aid and university endowments. "We remain steadfast in our belief that continued investment in research and education is one of the surest ways to advance long-term economic growth, national security and opportunity for the next generation," Diermeier said.

Vanderbilt's voice in Washington

"Events like this bring our community together with policymakers in meaningful ways," said Nathan Green, vice chancellor for government and community relations. "They reinforce the value of the work happening at Vanderbilt every day and remind our federal partners that we're committed to working alongside them to strengthen the country's future."

"We were grateful to have Chancellor Diermeier on Capitol Hill at such a critical time, as Congress is considering legislation that would have a significant impact on our students and the university," said Christina West, associate vice chancellor for federal relations. "We are working tirelessly to protect and advance the university's considerable interests in Washington and deeply appreciate the continued engagement from campus partners in these efforts."

These engagements were organized and facilitated by Vanderbilt's Office of Federal Relations, which works year-round to elevate the university's priorities in Washington and connect campus experts with federal partners. Vanderbilt continues to advocate for federal investments that support the university's mission and create positive long-term effects across Tennessee and the nation.