Penn spent $180,000 lobbying the federal government on issues related to international student visas, financial aid, and research in the third quarter of 2026.<\/p>\n
The disclosure, filed<\/a> earlier this month, brings the University\u2019s total lobbying expenditures for the year to $750,000. Penn\u2019s spending this quarter fell sharply from the $280,000 reported<\/a> in the second quarter of 2026 and was down 50% from the same period<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n According to the report, Penn lobbied on the \u201cSave Healthcare Workers Act\u201d and Medicaid funding under 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Other listed issues included workplace violence prevention, National Institutes of Health research, and \u201cinternational students and visas.\u201d<\/p>\n A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson. The University\u2019s first disclosure, filed on Oct. 19, indicated $100,000 in spending during the third quarter of this year. On Wednesday, Penn filed an amendment to its initial posting. \u00a0<\/p>\n Associate Vice President for Federal Affairs William Andresen and Penn Medicine Corporate Director for Government and Community Relations Kristen Molloy were named as the University\u2019s lobbyists.<\/p>\n Get the DP delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign Up<\/a><\/p>\n Between July 1 and Sept. 30, Penn allocated $130,000 to retain two external lobbying firms: BGR Group and Mehlman Consulting.<\/p>\n Penn first contacted BGR Group \u2014 one of the largest lobbying firms in Washington \u2014 in May 2025 to advocate<\/a> on its behalf with federal policymakers. The University paid<\/a> the firm $80,000 this quarter for \u201cstrategic counsel and advocate on issues related to higher education and research appropriations.\u201d<\/p>\n Six BGR Group lobbyists represented Penn, including Managing Director David Urban, who graduated from Penn in 1994. Urban also served as a senior advisor to Trump\u2019s 2016 presidential campaign. Sean Cooksey, who formerly served as Vice President JD Vance\u2019s chief legal and policy adviser, is also a member of the firm.<\/p>\n