Advocating for CU Anschutz in Washington, D.C., 6-27-25

Dear CU Anschutz community,

Over the past several weeks, we have traveled to Washington, D.C., along with leadership from across the University of Colorado system, to meet with members of Colorado's congressional delegation on key issues critical to our campus and our mission. These visits are vital opportunities to advocate for our campus, our people and the work that defines CU Anschutz.

This week, we raised urgent concerns about delayed and disrupted federal research funding, including mission-critical NIH grants. We reinforced the concern over graduate and professional student borrowing limits that would create new barriers for aspiring health professionals, particularly those from rural communities and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. And, as the state’s largest physician provider, we emphasized the importance of federal programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare in providing coverage for all Coloradans.

We also shared the success stories that position CU Anschutz as a national leader in academic medicine ‒ from groundbreaking cancer care to pioneering research in traumatic brain injury and substance use disorders to our growing presence in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and rural regions across the state. These stories help our lawmakers understand the real-world impact of policy decisions, and they highlight the extraordinary work being led by all of you.

As we continue these conversations with both state and federal leaders, our message remains clear: CU Anschutz is an essential and trusted partner in delivering the finest healthcare today and in building a healthier future for all. We will keep advocating for the resources, policies and support that empower your work and deepen our impact across Colorado and beyond.

We understand the concerns of our faculty, students and staff during these uncertain times, and we remain committed to advocating fiercely on your behalf and for the mission we all share. It's simply too important to do anything less.

You can find the latest information on federal directives and actions, and submit questions to the campus federal response team, at www.cuanschutz.edu/federal-updates.

Don Elliman
Chancellor

John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
Dean, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Thomas Flaig, MD
Vice Chancellor for Research