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Syracuse University registered lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs LLC on March 1 to represent the university at the federal level on issues relating to higher education, according to a filing with the Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.

The registration names Deirdre Stach, a senior vice president at the firm, as SU’s new federal lobbyist.

This is the first time Mercury is representing the university at the federal level. SU has contracted with Mercury for state-level lobbying since 2019, according to the website for the New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.

Lobbyists hired by universities act as direct representatives to state and federal officials and petition the government on a range of policy issues. In 2024, SU filed 12 federal lobbying disclosures — public reports that organizations must file when using lobbyists to influence federal policy decisions — including seven lobbyists from across three firms.

As federal lobbying activity in higher education continues to increase nationwide, Stach’s contract marks the university’s first lobbying contract of the year.

Mercury and Stach did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Daily Orange.

In an April 7 email statement to The D.O., a university spokesperson said SU works with external sources to advocate on behalf of the school in front of Congress.

“Like many institutions, Syracuse University regularly engages with outside partners to advocate on behalf of the University’s priorities and its people,” the spokesperson wrote.

Universities spend millions annually to lobby Congress and executive branch officials, Inside Higher Ed reported. In 2024, universities nationwide spent a combined total of over $103 billion on education lobbying, according to OpenSecrets. The total amount has increased in the last five years.

Compared to other private universities, SU’s lobbying spending remains on the lower end, according to OpenSecrets. SU spent $430,000 on lobbying in 2024, the highest total in the university’s history. The amount marks a continued increase in expenditures, which totaled $30,000 in 2021, $130,000 in 2022 and $320,000 in 2023.

The contract comes amid ongoing changes in federal higher education policy. On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the United States Department of Education.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the federal government has suspended or canceled federal funding to several universities. It’s also launched investigations into 60 universities, including Columbia University, Cornell University and Harvard University, The Wall Street Journal reported. The investigations concern claims of antisemitism and antitrust law violations, as well as policies on transgender athletes.

Mercury is a national government relations and strategic communications firm that represents nonprofits, foundations, corporations and other universities, including Gallaudet University, Illinois State University and Loyola University New Orleans, according to its website.

SU has previously worked with several other government relations firms, including HillEast Group, Van Scoyoc Associates and Cornerstone Government Affairs, according to the House Clerk’s Office website.

Stach joined Clark & Weinstock in 1996, which merged with Mercury in 2011. She previously served as budget analyst for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and worked as legislative director to former Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Walker, according to Mercury’s website.

At Mercury, Stach has represented groups including the American Public Education, Inc., Samsung Electronics, eBay, LeadingAge and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

Published on April 14, 2025 at 12:15 am