Rutgers graduate students meet with nine congressional offices on federal funding, loan policy, and international student protections.
On Monday, March 30, 2026, the Rutgers Graduate Student Association Executive Committee traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the annual Graduate Student Advocacy Day, organized in partnership with the Rutgers University Office of Federal Relations (OFR). The trip marked the most comprehensive congressional outreach effort the GSA has undertaken to date, with two groups of executive committee members meeting with legislative staff across nine offices of the New Jersey congressional delegation on the Capitol Hill grounds.
Following a briefing lunch at the Hall of the States, both groups spent the afternoon in back-to-back meetings in the Hart Senate Office Building and the Cannon and Rayburn House Office Buildings, engaging senior legislative aides, policy advisers, and legislative directors on issues directly affecting Rutgers’ nearly 15,000 graduate students.
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES VISITED:
Group 1: Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08), Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02)
Group 2: Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ-07), Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10)
WHAT WE ADVOCATED FOR:
- Graduate PLUS Loan Elimination. The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act eliminated Federal Graduate PLUS loans, a financing tool that 2,770 Rutgers graduate students relied on for $89.5 million in annual support. The GSA urged Congress to increase investments in direct loans and federal research funding to fill this gap and maintain access to graduate education.
- Unsubsidized Loan Caps. New limits cap graduate unsubsidized loans at $20,500 annually and $100,000 over a lifetime, with higher limits reserved only for degrees classified as “professional” by the Department of Education. This definition excludes planning, nursing, social work, education, and physical therapy.
- POST GRAD Act. The GSA urged congressional offices to support H.R. 3711 and S. 1948, which would reinstate Direct Subsidized Loans for graduate students, eliminating interest accrual during enrollment and reducing long-term debt burden.
- Federal Research Funding. Rutgers received $516 million in federal research grants in FY 2025. The GSA advocated for sustained, robust investment in peer-reviewed, competitively awarded federal research funding across NSF, NIH, DOT, and other agencies.
- International Student Protections. The GSA called on Congress to preserve Optional Practical Training (OPT), Duration of Status, and the H-1B university and nonprofit research exemption; policies foundational to Rutgers’ international graduate student community.
A BIPARTISAN EFFORT:
The advocacy effort was deliberately bipartisan, with both groups meeting with Republican and Democratic offices. Messaging was tailored to each office, centering economic competitiveness and workforce development where appropriate, and educational access and equity in others.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The GSA extends its sincere gratitude to the Rutgers Office of Federal Relations, Senior Director Ian Grubman, Associate Director Samantha Booth, and Federal Relations Assistant Caleb Kuberiet, for their partnership in organizing and preparing the executive committee for this day.
WHAT GRADUATE STUDENTS CAN DO NOW:
Key loan policy changes take effect July 1, 2026. Graduate students are encouraged to review how these changes may affect their financial aid, explore alternative funding options with their financial aid office, and contact their congressional representatives directly as constituents to amplify the GSA’s advocacy.
Questions? Contact the GSA Executive Committee at president@gsa.rutgers.edu
