Penn State’s leadership weighed in today (March 17) following the release of the White House’s 2018 budget blueprint, which among other things calls for significant reductions in federal aid to low-income students and critical research grant funding that drives innovation and economic activity. Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations, and other leaders, are in touch with Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation as debate on the budget begins.

Penn State President Eric Barron has joined university presidents from across the U.S. in signing a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The letter, organized by the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), expresses concerns about the recent executive order on immigration. Available to read at http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Letter-From-Institutions-to-DH..., the message focuses on higher education's principles concerning international students, researchers, faculty and staff.