The information covered below is from June 6, 2025, through June 18, 2025.

Highlights:

• On June 10, the U.S. Department of Education disclosed for the first time efforts to transfer some of the agency’s functions to other federal agencies.
• Recently, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Agriculture, and Finance Committees released proposed bill text for inclusion in a larger Budget Reconciliation package being developed by multiple Senate committees.
• On June 12, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Trump Administration’s proposal to rescind $9.4 billion of previously appropriated funding, by a vote of 214-212.

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED discloses attempted transfer of functions to other agencies: On June 10, USED disclosed for the first time efforts to transfer some of the agency’s functions to other federal agencies. In a weekly status update in State of NY v. McMahon, the lawsuit by a group of states challenging the Administration’s efforts to dismantle USED including via massive reductions-in-force (RIF), USED noted ways it was complying with the court’s preliminary injunction. Among those compliance efforts, USED noted that: “[T]he Department continues to pause implementing significant interagency agreements, preventing the Department (and other agencies) from pursuing operational efficiencies and cost-savings. For example, on May 21, 2025, the Department executed an interagency agreement with the Department of Labor regarding administration of certain career, technical, and adult education grants.”

The executed agreement (Exhibit B of the update to the court) outlines the agreement between USED’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) and the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Under the draft agreement, ETA would administer Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title II programs using “up to $2,673,000,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2025 for funds appropriated in FY2024 and FY2025” and then seek reimbursement from OCTAE. Meanwhile, OCTAE would carry out many of the administrative functions and activities otherwise required under statute. It is notable that USED described the agreement with DOL ,in part, as an effort to implement Executive Order 14242 directing the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department. USED also disclosed that it was “negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the Treasury Department regarding student loan management,” but had likewise paused that process pursuant to the preliminary injunction. The update to the court includes (as Exhibit C) information about nine USED employees who have been detailed to Treasury to “support Federal Student Aid functions performed in partnership with Treasury.”

On June 18, House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA),  and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) sent a letter to USED Secretary McMahon, calling the efforts to transfer the responsibilities “illegal.” Explaining that the Perkins CTE and adult education programs are education programs and, therefore, should remain at USED. The Ranking Members wrote that, “Any attempt to move these programs to Labor would fundamentally alter the purposes of those programs and risk turning them into short-term job training programs, no different than those that are funded under WIOA.” The lawmakers also noted that the attempt to transfer administration of grant funding for CTE programs to DOL, while maintaining some policy functions at USED “would actually create more inefficiency and trouble for everyone who depends on the programs.”

USED announces new Trump Administration appointees: On June 6, USED announced the following new Trump Administration nominations:

• Lindsey Burke as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs, who most recently worked at the Heritage Foundation and wrote the Education Chapter of Project 2025. Dr. Burke also previously served on Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 transition steering committee and has served as a fellow at EdChoice, whose mission is to advance “school choice for all children.”
• Jeffrey Andrade as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation in the Office of Postsecondary Education, who has previously worked as a career civil servant at USED focused on postsecondary student financial assistance. Mr. Andrade has also worked in the past for the House Education and Workforce Committee, helping to successfully draft and negotiate reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act and the Workforce Investment Act.
• Nicholas Moore as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, who most recently served as director of the Alabama Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation. Mr. Moore has served previously in roles on Capitol Hill, handling education, health care, and workforce development in the Offices of Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) and Senator Luther Strange (R-AL).
• Jason Delisle as Chief Economist and Senior Adviser in the Office of the Under Secretary, who has held several higher education-focused positions at think tanks, including the American Enterprise Institute and the Urban Institute. Mr. Delisle also worked as an analyst for the Senate Budget Committee.
• Casey K. Sacks as Senior Policy Advisor for Workforce and Artificial Intelligence (AI), who is the President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College and founder of the WIN Academy Early College Charter High School in Charleston, WV. Dr. Sacks previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at USED where she led work related to workforce development, career and technical education, adult education, and prison education.
• Meir Katz as Senior Advisor in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), who previously served as a Senior Counsel in OCR. More recently, Mr. Katz served as an Administrative Appeals Judge on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’ Medicare Appeals Counsel, issuing decisions on behalf of the HHS Secretary and providing the final administrative review for Medicare claims appeals.

USED announces new actions as part of the identity validation processes to combat student aid fraud: On June 6, USED announced it will launch a nationwide effort to eliminate identity theft and fraud in the federal student aid programs for the fall 2025 semester. Leading up to the fall semester, the Department will require institutions of higher education to validate the identity of certain first-time applicants who are enrolled in the summer term, after which USED plans to implement a permanent screening process for each FAFSA applicant to enhance FSA’s ability to immediately stop identity fraud on behalf of colleges and universities. The Department stated that these actions are necessary as, “Federal Student Aid (FSA) data indicates that the rate of fraud through stolen identities, particularly involving technologically advanced fraud rings, has reached a level that imperils the federal student assistance programs.”

Administration and Congress take additional action against Harvard University: There have been several new developments in the Administration’s multi-pronged actions against Harvard University. Following a June 4 Presidential Proclamation barring any foreign national from entering the country to study at Harvard University and tasking the Secretary of State with reviewing the immigration status of Harvard students currently in the United States on certain visas, Harvard University secured a temporary restraining order from the judge overseeing its lawsuit against the Administration. In that lawsuit, several amicus briefs were recently filed in support of Harvard, including ones by 24 major colleges and universities, 21 states, 28 higher education organizations, and 12,000 Harvard alumni.

Relatedly, House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) was joined by several Republican Committee members, including former Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in sending a letter on June 10, to Harvard University President Alan Garber requesting information about whether the school engages in illegal, discriminatory hiring and employment practices in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The letter inquires about “Diversity-Related Sample Interview Questions” provided to job candidates, as well as “public documents from Harvard touting its success in sharply changing the demographics of tenured and tenure-track faculty.” Chair Walberg requests information about “whether and how” Harvard University considers specific demographics in hiring and employment.

USED refers Massapequa mascot case to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) after New York Department of Education rejects Resolution Agreement: On June 17, USED announced that it is referring its investigation into the New York Department of Education (NYDE) and the New York State Board of Regents (the Board) for their alleged unlawful attempt to ban mascots and logos that celebrate Native American history to the DOJ. The investigation first began in April following a complaint from the Native American Guardians Association’s (NAGA) alleging that the state’s requirement of the district’s elimination of its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture is violating federal civil rights law. In May, USED announced that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation determined that the Board has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos by school districts in the state of New York. After OCR issued a proposed resolution agreement, which required the Board to rescind their prohibition on the use of Indigenous names and mascots and to issue a letter of apology to Indigenous tribes for attempting to erase Native American history, NYDE and the Board rejected the agreement.

USED elevates investigations in Minnesota to the Title IX Special Investigations Team: On June 12, USED announced it will be elevating its Title IX investigations into the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) to the Title IX Special Investigations Team (Title IX SIT). The MSHLSL investigation first began in February and alleged that the league planned to violate federal antidiscrimination laws, by “[abiding to] state law as it relates to girls’ and women’s sports in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws.” A similar investigation into MDE began earlier in June. USED’s announcement notes that the elevation to the Title IX SIT follows a recent MSHSL softball match in which a transgender girl competed.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):

Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation finds Trump Administration illegally impounding funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): On June 16, the GAO issued a report titled, “Institute of Museum and Library Services—Applicability of the Impoundment Control Act to Reduction of Agency Functions,” in which the GAO found that, “IMLS has violated the [Impoundment Control Act] by withholding funds from obligation and expenditure.” Following President Trump’s March 14 Executive Order directing IMLS “be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” the GAO wrote that “IMLS ceased performing agency functions and withheld from obligation and expenditure funds that Congress appropriated for such functions.” Though the IMLS did not respond to the GAO’s requests for information, the GAO used publicly available information, including sworn testimony, federal court cases, data on USAspending.gov, and information on IMLS's website, to conclude that the Trump Administration is in violation of the Impoundment Control Act, as federal funds appropriated by Congress were not obligated correctly.

In response, Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) issued a statement, saying, “it is clear as day President Trump is breaking the law to block funding Congress provided…he himself signed these investments into law, and they need to start flowing immediately.” House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) also said in a statement, “The Constitution clearly states that Congress has the ‘power of the purse.’ Therefore, the Trump Administration has violated the law by not distributing the funds as Congress intended.”

Congress:

Senate:

Senate HELP Committee proposes budget reconciliation bill: On June 11, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released its proposed budget reconciliation bill text, which is one part of a larger budget reconciliation bill currently being developed by multiple Senate committees. Like the House Education and Workforce Committee’s version, the education portion of the Senate’s bill focuses entirely on higher education, providing an estimated budget savings of $300 billion over fiscal years 2025-2034.

Overall, many critical provisions are nearly equivalent between the House and Senate education bills—replacement of Grad PLUS loans with more limited graduate lending and reduction in Parent PLUS loan amounts, repayment plan changes, and creation of “Workforce Pell Grants.” However, significant areas of divergence remain, particularly with respect to accountability, undergraduate loan limits, and Pell Grant eligibility restrictions. These latter provisions will require further negotiation between the House and Senate so are more likely to be modified or removed from the bill.

Among other things, the bill would:

• Eliminate Grad PLUS loans, but provide for some new, limited loan eligibility for graduate programs;
• Scale back Parent PLUS loans and slightly modify undergraduate loan eligibility;
• Eliminate nearly all repayment plans for new borrowers and replace them with a standard payment and a new income-based “Repayment Assistance Program;”
• Eliminate Pell Grant eligibility for certain students;
• Establish a new “Workforce Pell Grant” for short-term training programs; and
• Create a new accountability regime for all degree programs with low earnings, similar to Gainful Employment, but that would not cover certificate programs, which typically have the lowest earnings.

Because the bill is designed to comply with the rules of Budget Reconciliation, final legislation would not be subject to the 60-vote threshold for a filibuster and could pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. Final legislation would have to be agreed to by both a majority of the House and Senate. EducationCounsel’s new Deep Dive includes more detail about the component parts of the bill, their likely impact, and how closely they align with the House’s bill.

Senate Agriculture Committee proposes budget reconciliation bill: On June 11, the  Senate Agriculture Committee also released its proposed portion of the budget reconciliation package that includes sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although it is not identical to the House’s version, the Senate proposal also moves to significantly restrict access and reduce benefits for millions of households.

Among other things, the bill would:

• In terms of restrictions on eligibility, the Senate version follows the House measure by including provisions that would expand work requirements to adults up to age 64 and restrict eligibility solely to those who are lawfully present in the United States.
• The bill also would impose new cost-sharing obligations on states for SNAP benefit delivery—marking a stark departure from long standing federal funding policy. Unlike the House bill, which would require all states to pay at least 5% of the cost of food benefits, the Senate version would apply cost-sharing only to those states with a payment error rate of 6% or higher. Depending on the error rate, the Senate’s approach would require states to spend between 5%–15% of the cost for SNAP. Under the House measure, by contrast, cost-sharing could be as high as 25% for states with higher error rates.

As with the House-passed bill, the Senate proposal would likely disproportionately affect older adults, low-income working families, and immigrant communities, while straining state budgets and reducing overall food security. A detailed analysis of the impact of the proposed Senate plan, conducted by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) can be found here. In addition, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) analysis of proposed SNAP changes can be found here.

Note: This portion of the E-Update was drafted prior to the consideration of the bill by the Senate parliamentarian to comply with Senate rules allowing a bill to come to the Senate floor, which is known as the "Byrd Bath." EducationCounsel expects to be releasing additional information in the coming day(s) providing updates on the outcomes of the Senate parliamentarian’s review.

Senate Finance Committee proposes budget reconciliation bill: On June 16, the Senate Finance Committee also released its proposed bill text (section-by-section) for inclusion in a larger Budget Reconciliation package being developed by multiple Senate committees. The draft expands tax cuts, increases some taxes, and cuts Medicaid, among other things.

Among other things, the bill would:

• Like the House-passed bill, the Senate proposal makes a number of changes to the Medicaid program, including frequent eligibility redeterminations, increases cost to states to cover some recipients, increases costs to patients for some services, and adds work requirements. The work requirements in the Senate bill are stricter in that they would apply work requirements to parents with children over 14 years old. The House-passed bill included exemptions from new work requirements for parents of any dependent children.
• Beginning in 2025, makes permanent and increases by $200 the non-refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) to $2,200. Additionally, the non-refundable credit would be indexed to inflation after 2025. The House bill would temporarily increase the non-refundable CTC to $2,500 until 2028, before reverting back to $2,000. Both the House and Senate bill make permanent and adjust for inflation the refundable CTC resulting in a $1,700 credit for 2025. As with the House bill, only those parents with an active Social Security number (SSN) would be allowed to claim the credit.
• As with the House bill, creates a new $5,000 (or 10% of the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for the taxable year) income tax credit for charitable contributions to tax-exempt state and local organizations that provide private school scholarships (or vouchers) to elementary or secondary school students. The scholarships could be used for a range of educational expenses, including but not limited to, private or religious school tuition. Students from families earning up to 300% of an area’s median income would be eligible. The Senate proposal would include a $4 billion per year cap on the availability of the credit, instead of the $5 billion per year cap in the House bill. Additionally, the Senate proposal would create a permanent program for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, while the House bill would establish the credit beginning in calendar year 2026 through 2029. The House bill would also allow scholarships to be used toward homeschool expenses.
• Expands allowable tax-free distributions for K-12 expenses under 529 accounts in connection with enrollment or attendance at elementary and secondary school (public, private, or religious). Although tax-free withdrawal from 529 accounts of up to $10,000 annually for K-12 education is already permitted, the proposal would expand the list of allowable expenses to include curriculum and curricular materials, online education materials, tutoring, testing fees, and fees for dual enrollment, among other things. The proposal would also expand allowable tax-free distributions to some additional industry-recognized credentials and apprenticeships. The Sente proposal is similar to the expansion of 529 plans in the House bill, but the House bill would also expand allowable tax-free distributions for homeschool expenses.
• Enhances the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45f), Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). The House bill would only enhance the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45f).
• Modifies the excise tax on investment income of certain private colleges and universities by including a new sliding scale to determine the rate of taxation. In the Senate proposal, the tax rate on investment income would replace the current rate of 1.4% for certain private colleges with a new sliding scale ranging from 1.4% to a maximum of 8%, depending on the size of endowment-per-student for certain private colleges. Private colleges with an endowment per student above $2 million would pay the highest rate of 8%. The House bill includes a new sliding scale ranging from 1.4% to maximum of 21%, depending on the size of endowment-per-student for certain private colleges. In the House bill, private colleges with an endowment per student above $2 million would pay the highest rate of 21%.
• Similar to the House bill, creates a new type of tax-preferred savings account (known as a Trump Account) to allow families to contribute $5,000 annually into an account for young children under the age of eight. Distributions would not be allowed prior to age 18, after which account holders may access up to 50% for education, business development, or the purchase of a first home until age 25. At age 25, accountholders may withdraw any amount up to the full balance of the account for these limited purposes. Account holders would gain access to the full balance at age 30 for any purpose. Additionally, the government would contribute $1,000 to these accounts under a new temporary pilot program for children born between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2028. To be eligible, a child must have a Social Security number, and both parents must provide Social Security numbers and “be considered work eligible to claim the credit.”

Note: EducationCounsel will be circulating a deeper analysis of the Senate Finance Committee’s proposed bill text in the coming day(s).

House:

House passes Trump Administration’s proposed rescissions package: On June 12, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Trump Administration’s proposal to rescind $9.4 billion of previously appropriated funding, by a vote of 214-212. Four Republican members joined all Democratic members in opposing the bill, including Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Mike Turner (R-OH). While the proposed package would seek to codify DOGE’s – the “Department of Government Efficiency,” formerly led by Elon Musk - previous efforts to primarily reduce foreign assistance spending, the request also includes a proposed rescission of $1.07 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides grants to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). The package now moves to the Senate for consideration where due to its privileged nature allows for expedited consideration in the Senate – meaning only a simple majority vote (51 votes) is required to pass the package in the Senate. Congress has 45 days from June 4 – when the President initially submitted the proposed rescission package to Congress – to either approve, disapprove, or amend the rescission package.

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds hearing on screentime in schools: On June 10, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, “Screentime in Schools.” The Subcommittee heard from four witnesses: Dr. Rich Nye, Special Advisor of Education to Governor Spencer Cox of Utah; Dr. Matthew Gibbins, Assistant Superintendent of Richardson Independent School District; Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; and Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University.

In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair Kevin Kiley (R-CA) highlighted concerns with allowing use of screens in schools, including how screens allegedly contribute to students poor classwork and the impact screens may have on students’ mental health. Chair Kiley continued though noting some of the benefits, saying, “We know that thoughtful, focused use of educational technology can be beneficial for students… [including] sensors and apps to gather evidence for investigations and do research faster than ever. This very Subcommittee has examined the use of AI as a targeted tool to increase student achievement.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) shared similar sentiments in her opening remarks, stating that because technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives, “schools need to be equipped with the latest technology…but access to and use of technology must come with guardrails.” Ranking Member Bonamici also expressed support for local decision-making on technology policies, stating, “My colleagues on the other side of the aisle and officials in the Administration often say that the federal government should not be making decisions for local schools…as with curriculum decisions, technology policies should be managed by state and local officials.”

U.S. Courts:

Supreme Court issues decision on special education case: On June 12, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in a Minnesota student’s lawsuit alleging discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Supreme Court’s decision holds that students bringing claims under these laws “related to their education are not required to make a heightened showing of ‘bad faith or gross misjudgment.’” Instead, the Court clarified, these types of claims “should be subject to the same standards that apply in other disability discrimination contexts,” which typically require a showing of negligence or deliberate indifference.

Judge dismisses case against Trump Administration over cancellation of Columbia University’s funds: On June 16, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which represent faculty members at Columbia University, who sued the Trump Administration for efforts to cut nearly $400 million in federal funding for research in the name of combating antisemitism. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said in her opinion that the AFT and AAUP lacked standing to bring forward the challenge, noting that Columbia University is “conspicuously absent from this case.” The judge went on to say, “Our democracy cannot very well function if individual judges issue extraordinary relief to every plaintiff who clamors to object to executive action.” Judge Vyskocil added, “If any funds have been wrongfully withheld, such funds may be recovered at the end of a successful lawsuit by the appropriate plaintiff in an appropriate forum.”

Courts decline to issue preliminary injunctions in lawsuits related to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES): On June 3, the court hearing the challenge brought by the Institute of Higher Education Policy (IHEP), Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP), National Academy of Education (NAEd), and National Council for Measurement in Education (NCME) related to the Administration’s actions regarding IES denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction. The federal District Court in Maryland found that the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) likely does not bar the Administration’s actions. Separately, the court hearing the parallel challenge by American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) on June 12, declined to issue a preliminary injunction, as well. The judge’s order in the AERA/SREE case described the current posture of the lawsuit as follows: “This Court’s assessment is a preliminary one based on a limited and quickly evolving record. It is not, and should not be taken as, predictive of this Court’s ultimate decision on the merits. These Plaintiffs have alleged, and have provided some evidence to support, a troubling pattern of conduct at IES. They have plausibly suggested that IES will be unable to fulfill its statutory duties in its shrunken state. But because they cannot make the requisite showings on the preliminary injunction factors, and, in particular, have not shown they have standing to seek the relief they are asking for, their motion for a preliminary injunction must be denied.” Both lawsuits will proceed, but in the meantime, the Administration does not have to reinstate the cancelled IES grants.

Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) file lawsuit challenging Hispanic-Serving Institutions: On June 11, the State of Tennessee and SFFA filed a lawsuit in a Tennessee federal court to challenge the constitutionality of federal education grant programs supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). HSIs are institutions of higher education with enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic students. Tennessee and SFFA – the same organization that successfully brought the lawsuits challenging the use of race in admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina – argue that basing eligibility for federal grant opportunities on the demographic makeup of the student body is a form of racial discrimination.

California pre-emptively sues over funding threats: On June 9, the State of California filed a lawsuit in a California federal court against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pre-emptively halt what the state’s Attorney General described as “imminent legal retaliation against California’s school systems.” The lawsuit focuses on the Trump Administration’s threats regarding state policy allowing transgender students to participate on sports teams that align with their gender. The policy is already the subject of a separate federal lawsuit and a federal Title IX investigation, but the pre-emptive lawsuit stems from President Trump weighing in about a California transgender high school athlete’s participation in the state track and field championships and calling on the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to prohibit her participation. After the athlete participated and medaled in two events, President Trump asserted in a June 3 social media post that “large scale fines will be imposed” on the state. That same day, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to all California school districts warning them of “legal liability” and potential violation of the Equal Protection Clause for following CIF’s policy. The letter requested a “certification” response by June 9 that school districts will no longer do so. On June 3, the California Department of Education informed districts that the state will respond on their behalf—which it then did via this preemptive federal lawsuit.

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On June 24 at 10:00 a.m., the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget. The hearing will be held in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 24 at 2:00 p.m., the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a joint hearing titled, “Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education.” Witnesses have not yet been announced. The hearing will be held in 1324 Longworth House Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 24 at 10:15 a.m., the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold a hearing titled, “Child Care and the American Workforce: Removing Barriers to Economic Growth.” Witnesses have not yet been announced. The hearing will be held in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 25 at 10:00 a.m., the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services will hold a hearing titled, “Sacrificing Excellence for Ideology: The Real Cost of DEI.” Witnesses include: Dan Lennington, Managing Vice President and Deputy Counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty; Dr. Judge Glock, Ph.D., Director of Research and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute; and Dr. Erec Smith, Ph.D., Research Fellow at the Cato Institute. The hearing will be held in 2247 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 25 at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Commerce Committee will convene an Executive Session to consider legislation. Among the legislation for consideration is S. 836, Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act. The session will take place is 253 Russell Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 25 at 10:15 a.m., the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a markup of legislation, including the following:

  • H.R. 3453, Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act

  • H.R. 2516, Accreditation for College Excellence (ACE) Act of 2025

  • H.R. 4054, Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act

          The markup will be held in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.

• On June 25 at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing to consider the President’s Proposed Rescissions Package. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought will testify. The hearing will be held in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 26 at 9:30 a.m., the Senate HELP Committee will hold a vote on multiple nominations at the Department of Education, including Penny Schwinn to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education and Kimberly Richey to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. The vote will be held in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On July 9 at 10:25 a.m., the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology.” Witnesses include: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President of Georgetown University; Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of The City University of New York; and Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor of University of California, Berkeley. The hearing will be held in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On June 3, PEN America, in partnership with Florida Freedom to Read, released a report titled, “The Blueprint State.” The report reviews the education censorship laws that have advanced in Florida since 2021, and argues that contrary to their stated "parents rights," purpose, that the laws are working to enforce a restrictive state ideology, and disempower parents. The report outlines the ways in which it views this rhetoric as divisive and the true impact they have had, arguing that these laws may serve as a blueprint for similar federal policies. 
•  On June 4, The Rapid Response Desk (RRD), a coalition of education advocacy organizations, released a resource titled, “How the House Budget Reconciliation Bill Would Harm K-12 Students.” The resource includes: a breakdown of the proposed $20B national voucher program; details on Medicaid and SNAP cuts and their implications for education; impacts on student aid, college access, and the teacher pipeline; and state and congressional district-level data to support your advocacy.
• On June 9, the National College Attainment Network published an article titled, “CBO: 15 Credit Full-Time Estimate Costs $7.1B, How Does It Impact States?” The article focuses on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) analysis of the House’s reconciliation bill proposed provision increasing the number of credits per semester required for students to receive a maximum Pell Grant from 12 to 15. The article argues CBO provided an underestimation in their assessment that this provision would reduce direct spending outlays by $7.1 billion between 2025‑2034.
• On June 10, the National Parents Union released results of a new poll titled, “New National Poll: There’s Nothing Beautiful about the Trump & GOP-Backed Reconciliation Bill.” In a survey of 1,516 public school parents, 83% expressed opposition cuts to public education funding; 76% oppose cuts to college financial aid programs, and 74% oppose cuts to SNAP.
• On June 12, Arnold Ventures released a report titled, “Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars in Higher Education: Ensuring Value for Federal Financial Aid.” The report describes how the federal funding for many higher education programs has “few guardrails” and encourages Congress to “tighten federal aid eligibility to protect students from low-value degrees and save taxpayers money.” For all undergraduate and graduate programs to qualify for federal aid, the report recommends that graduates’ median to be higher than 25- to 34-year-olds with a high school diploma in the same state.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 3753

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals who pursue programs of education solely through distance learning on more than a half-time basis.
Sponsor: Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)

H.R. 3792

A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to prohibit providers participating in the Medicare program and State health care programs from requesting on intake forms information regarding the gender identity or sexual preference of minors.
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)

H.R. 3797

A bill to codify Executive Order 14278 (relating to preparing Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future).
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)

H.R. 3801

A bill to codify Executive Order 14280 (related to reinstating common sense school discipline policies).
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)

H.R. 3802

A bill to codify Executive Order 14190 (relating to ending radical indoctrination in K–12 schooling).
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)

H.R. 3836

A bill to codify Executive Order 14282 (relating to transparency regarding foreign influence at American universities).
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)

H.R. 3847

A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of student athletes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI)

H.R. 3853

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out professional development for arts educators and creative arts therapists to learn how to best accommodate children with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. David Scott (D-GA)

H.R. 3913

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish immigration and residency requirements for individuals served by Federal TRIO programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)

H.R. 3938

A bill to provide that chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code, relating to the enforcement of arbitration agreements, shall not apply to enrollment agreements made between students and certain institutions of higher education, and to prohibit limitations on the ability of students to pursue claims against certain institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

H.R. 3939

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with disabilities and their families with access to critical information needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.R. 3943

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide notice to students receiving work-study assistance about potential eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.R. 3950

A bill to defend women's rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies recognizing that women are biologically female and men are biologically male, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA)

H.R. 3974

A bill to establish an Interagency Task Force to examine the conditions and experiences of Black women and girls in education, economic development, healthcare, labor and employment, housing, justice and civil rights, to promote community-based methods for mitigating and addressing harm and ensuring accountability, and to study societal effects on Black women and girls, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)

H.R. 3985

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish notification requirements for policies and information concerning expectant and parenting students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)

H.R. 3994

A bill to improve data collection related to student parents pursuing higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC)

H.R. 4005

A bill to amend title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish the UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA)

H.R. 4006

A bill to require the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity to establish policy prohibiting the use of cellular phones and other distracting devices by students in DODEA schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA)

H.R. 4020

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to enter into arrangements with institutions of higher education to provide dual or concurrent enrollment programs for students enrolled in schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)

H.R. 4026

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and taxpayers.
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

H.R. 4048

A bill to require the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish a program to award grants for certain STEM apprenticeship programs, require an interagency task force to submit a report regarding certain programs of the Federal Government focused primarily on career development and training in STEM, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA)

H.R. 4049

A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish employer-directed skills accounts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 1988

A bill to prohibit the participation of males in athletic programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls.
Sponsor: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

S. 2026

A bill to provide that chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code, relating to the enforcement of arbitration agreements, shall not apply to enrollment agreements made between students and certain institutions of higher education, and to prohibit limitations on the ability of students to pursue claims against certain institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S.2028

A bill to authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

S. 2036

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish immigration and residency requirements for individuals served by Federal TRIO programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)

S. 2092

A bill to prohibit the use of smartphones at Department of Defense Education Activity schools.
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN)

S. 2107

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and taxpayers.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)