Twenty-four U.S. senators have collectively requested $636 million in earmarks for universities they personally attended as students, accounting for more than 20% of all university-directed earmarks in the proposed 2026 federal budget, according to a recent analysis by OpenTheBooks.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers consists of 13 Democrats and 11 Republicans, yet Republicans requested substantially more funding—$470 million, representing 74% of the total. On average, each senator earmarked approximately $4.9 million for their alma mater.
Earmarks, the practice of directing federal funds to specific projects or entities, have long been controversial in American politics. They were officially banned in 2011 following corruption scandals but were revived in 2021 under new transparency rules that require lawmakers to post their requests online.
The report, highlighted by social media commentator Breanna Morello, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the distribution of federal education funding. The concentration of such significant portions of university earmarks to institutions where senators were educated suggests potential bias in the allocation process.
Thomas Johnson, a government ethics expert at the Brookings Institution, notes that "while this practice isn't illegal, it certainly raises eyebrows. The appearance of lawmakers steering substantial funds to their own alma maters, regardless of party affiliation, can fuel public cynicism about how federal money is allocated."
The analysis reveals that despite representing only 24% of the Senate, these senators would direct over 20% of all university earmarks to institutions with which they have personal connections.
The report also highlighted the distribution disparities between party lines, with Republican senators requesting significantly higher amounts on average despite being outnumbered by Democrats in the group.
A Senate spokesperson stated that "all earmark requests are subject to rigorous review and represent legitimate needs within respective states. Many of these institutions are critical economic engines and educational hubs that benefit entire communities."
UK reassigned the responsibilities of the Office for Institutional Diversity to other campus offices, and the changes did not result in any job losses, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said at the time.
As the 2026 budget negotiations continue, this analysis adds to ongoing debates about earmark reform and transparency in federal spending decisions. Critics argue that the current system allows for potential personal connections to influence funding allocation, while proponents maintain that earmarks enable elected officials to address specific needs in their communities that might otherwise be overlooked.
The report from OpenTheBooks, a government transparency organization, raises fresh concerns about the intersection of personal educational history and public funding decisions, suggesting that lawmakers' personal connections may be influencing how taxpayer dollars are allocated in higher education funding.
Top 5 Senators:
The report from OpenTheBooks, a government transparency organization, raises fresh concerns about the intersection of personal educational history and public funding decisions, suggesting that lawmakers' personal connections may be influencing how taxpayer dollars are allocated in higher education funding.
Top 5 Senators:
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - University of Louisville: $100 million
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - University of Kentucky: $65 million
- Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) - University of Kansas: $60 million
- Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) - Marshall University: $57.5 million
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) – Washington State University: $50.9 million
Note: The four Republican senators alone account for approximately $282.5 million of the $636 million in alma mater earmarks, representing around 44% of the total.
The report indicates that out of the 24 senators:
The report indicates that out of the 24 senators:
- 11 were Republicans who requested $470 million (74% of the total)
- 13 were Democrats who requested the remaining $166 million (26% of the total)
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) introduced an amendment on Jan. 22 to strike all earmarks from the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill, calling them “partisan pet projects” that are “outside the core mission” of the bill.
He was unsuccessful. Seventy-six House Republicans joined 215 Democrats in voting to keep the earmarks intact.
