The information covered below is from May 27, 2025, through June 5, 2025.

Highlights:

• On May 30, President Trump released additional details of his fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) budget request for the U.S. Departments of Education (USED) and Health and Human Services (HHS).
• During the week of June 2, Senate and House Committees held hearings with USED Secretary Linda McMahon to examine the Trump Administration’s educational priorities and proposed FY2026 budget request for USED.
• On June 4, President Trump submitted to Congress a proposal to rescind $9.4 billion of previously appropriated funding.

Administration:

White House:

President Trump releases additional details regarding his fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request: On May 30, President Trump released additional details of his fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request for the Departments of Education (USED) and Health and Human Services (HHS), which are available here and here, respectively. The budget summaries for these agencies build on the President’s FY2026 initial budget request (and often referred to as the “skinny budget”), which was released a few weeks ago. For USED, the budget request proposes $66.7 billion, a reduction of $12 billion or 15.3% below the FY2025 level. Given the President’s desire to eliminate USED, it is notable that his budget request did not zero out its funding. That said, the budget request aligns with the Administration’s efforts to hollow out USED by reducing the overall funding and recommending the consolidation of several key programs.

The President’s budget request includes the following for key education and early learning programs (not intended to be comprehensive):

• Early Learning: Funding would be maintained at the FY2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) level for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start; however, the budget does call for the elimination of the Preschool Development Grant Birth-to-Five Program, a competitive grant designed to help states with early childhood systems-building.
• K-12 Education: The budget request maintains funding for Title I, while proposing to consolidate 18 existing K-12 formula and competitive grant programs into a new $2 billion “K-12 Simplified Funding Program”—which would represent a $4.5 billion decrease below the total current funding for those programs. This proposal would create a single State Formula Grant Program (SFP) – or block grant – that may provide more flexibility to states and districts, but that would come at a cost of nearly 70% less funding. The State Assessments program would be among the consolidated programs and one potential impact of this could be that states would no longer be required to administer statewide assessments. This is due to a trigger provision included in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that says if funding for the Statewide Assessments falls below $369.1 million, then statewide assessments do not need to be administered.
• • The 18 programs that would be consolidated into the K-12 SFP are: Comprehensive literacy state development grants; Innovative approaches to literacy; Neglected, delinquent, and at-risk children and youth; Supporting effective instruction State grants; 21st century community learning centers; State assessments; Education for homeless children and youths; Native Hawaiian education; Alaska Native education; Rural education; Student support and academic enrichment grants; American history and civics education; Magnet schools assistance; Arts in education; Javits gifted and talented education; Statewide family engagement centers; School safety national activities; and Promise neighborhoods.
• Special Education: The budget request also calls for consolidation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Preschool Grants program and Special Education National Activities program into the IDEA Grants to States program – essentially eliminating the Preschool Grants and National Activities parts of IDEA. Unlike with the K-12 SFP, the IDEA consolidation does not come with a funding cut. However, removing funding targeted at specific age populations or activities could jeopardize existing support and reduce funding over time. Additionally, the budget request would maintain funding for the IDEA Grants for the Infants and Families program separate from the consolidated IDEA Grants to States program.
• Student Financial Assistance and Higher Education: The budget request would reduce the maximum Pell Grant award from $7,395 to $5,710, which is a nearly 23% reduction. Additionally, the budget request would eliminate the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) program and cut the Federal Work-Study program by a combined $1.9 billion, or 80%, while also restructuring it. Further, the request would eliminate funding for college preparation and support programs including TRIO and GEAR UP. The budget request would maintain funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
• Institute of Education Sciences (IES): The budget request would also significantly cut funding for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) – which houses most USED data collection and research funding – to $261.3 million, a reduction of 67% compared to the FY2024 level. Some funding would be provided for the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) at $129.9 million (a 30% reduction compared to the FY2024 level) and the National Assessment Governing Board at $7.4 million (a 10.5% reduction compared to FY2024 level); however, funding for every other program under IES would be eliminated. Instead, the President requests $124 million shown as an undistributed line under the IES account to enable IES to meet statutory requirements, continue critical data collections and studies, and fund administrative expenses in the short-term. The budget request also notes that the Administration is in the midst of “reimagining a more efficient, effective, and useful IES to improve support for evidence-based accountability, data-driven decision making, and education research for use in the classroom.”
• National Science Foundation (NSF): The NSF would be reduced by $5.2 billion or a 57% decrease below the current level.
• Eliminations: The budget request also proposes to completely eliminate federal funding for other K-12 programs - beyond the 18 programs that would be reduced and folded into a new block grant - including the Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students (Title III of ESSA), Migrant Education, Equity Assistance Centers, Teacher and School Leader Incentive program, Education, Innovation, and Research Grants, and Comprehensive Centers, among other programs. Under higher education, the budget request eliminates the Strengthening Institutions program, Teacher Quality Partnerships, the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools program, Postsecondary Success Grants, among other programs. The budget request also eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps), the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences.

More information on the FY2026 President’s budget request can be found in EducationCounsel’s June 2 Alert here.

President Trump proposes rescission package to formalize some Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts: On June 4, President Trump submitted to Congress a proposal to rescind $9.4 billion of previously appropriated funding. While the proposed package would seek to codify DOGE’s 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). Congress has 45 days to either approve, disapprove, or amend the rescission package, which 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. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated that he intends to bring the package to the House floor for a vote possibly as early as the week of June 9; however, whether the recission package will be approved in the House and Senate remains to be seen as cuts to CPB could impact services for rural communities. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) appeared to acknowledge this recently saying, “I’m not going to prejudge a rescission package. But based on what I’m hearing, I think I would have some considerable difficulties.”

President Trump signs Executive Order on science and research: On May 23, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled, “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” which seeks to address what the order asserts is the politicization of research and discovery by the Biden Administration and aims to “restore public trust” in the sciences. The EO’s preamble section notes concerns regarding the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) pandemic-era guidance on in-person schooling. To this end, the EO sets out requirements for all federal activities related to all types and forms of scientific information, including federally-funded research. The EO charges the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) with developing new guidance within 30 days that all federal agencies will then incorporate into their policies and processes within the following 60 days. In the meantime, the EO directs agencies to use guidance that was in place during President Trump’s first term, including, “reevaluating and, where necessary, revising or rescinding scientific integrity policies or procedures” from the Biden Administration. Because there appears to be no requirement for consulting with experts in the field, some have raised concerns that the EO creates new opportunities for political appointees to revise, characterize, or question scientific findings that may not align with the Administration’s political agenda.

According to the EO, “Gold Standard Science” refers to “science conducted in a manner that is: (i) reproducible; (ii) transparent; (iii) communicative of error and uncertainty; (iv) collaborative and interdisciplinary; (v) skeptical of its findings and assumptions; (vi) structured for falsifiability of hypotheses; (vii) subject to unbiased peer review; (viii) accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and (ix) without conflicts of interest.”

The EO’s “Enforcement and Oversight” provisions require each agency to establish “internal processes to evaluate alleged violations” and assign responsibility for enforcement to senior political appointees.

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED announces new oversight actions for the federal student loan portfolio: On May 28, USED announced new oversight actions for the federal student loan portfolio following a “comprehensive analysis [which] uncovered nearly $90 million disbursed to ineligible recipients, including thousands of deceased individuals receiving some form of payment.” The Department shared that while cross-referencing data with the Social Security Death Index, “more than $30 million in aid was disbursed to thousands of deceased individuals over the past three years,” adding that continued work with the Social Security Administration will prevent identity theft and avoid these payments in the future. The announcement also stated that individuals under the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) temporary “immigration parole” designation are not immediately eligible for federal student aid, and USED will work with the DHS to prevent disbursement of federal student aid to these individuals.

Additionally, USED identified multiple actions to prevent improper disbursements, including using the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) post-screening of student aid applications. The announcement highlighted, for example, how the post-screening process provides oversight noting, “once a student reaches their lifetime limit for receiving Federal Pell Grants, post screening flags this limit in the student loan database, which prevents a financial aid administrator from awarding further Pell Grant aid.” USED also outlined actions taken to prevent identity fraud that can take place with regard to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) verification and fraud detection, including data models to identify potentially suspicious or inconsistent information submitted on the FAFSA form.

USED not garnishing Social Security benefits, but just wages as previously announced: On June 2, USED spokesperson Ellen Keast said in a statement to The Hill that, “The Department has not offset any Social Security benefits since restarting collections [of its defaulted federal student loan portfolio] on May 5, and has put a pause on any future Social Security offsets.” Kearst went on to say, “The Trump Administration is committed to protecting Social Security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income.” Kearst also said, “In the coming weeks, the Department will begin proactive outreach to recipients about affordable loan repayment options and help them back into good standing.”

USED Secretary McMahon visits NY high school to conclude mascot investigation: On May 30, USED Secretary Linda McMahon visited Massapequa High School to announce that USED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has concluded its investigation into the New York Department of Education and the New York State Board of Regents (the Board). The investigation into the Massapequa School District’s mascot followed 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. OCR’s 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. In its proposed Resolution Agreement, OCR required that the Board rescind its regulation prohibiting the use of Indigenous names, mascots, and logos by New York public schools; issue a memo to all local educational agencies (LEAs) informing them that they may adopt a name, mascot, and logo consistent with the requirements of Title VI; and send letters of apology to Indigenous tribes.

Administration takes additional action against Harvard University, including the termination of federal contracts and its ability to admit international students: The Administration began its investigation of Harvard University on March 31 when the Joint Task Force on Antisemitism, led by USED and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), announced a review of Harvard University’s federal contracts due to claims that the institution was not properly responding to reports of antisemitism on its campus. The investigation has resulted in multiple actions and responses between the Administration and Harvard University, which most recently included Harvard suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on May 23 regarding the termination of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. Harvard later received a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the university’s SEVP certification termination from going into effect; however, DHS rescinded the Notice of Intent to Withdraw SEVP Certification on May 29 and notified Harvard that the university will have 30 days to contest the termination. Meanwhile, the judge in the May 23 suit stated she will issue a preliminary injunction to allow Harvard to continue admitting international students. Additionally, on May 27, the General Services Administration directed all federal agencies to identify and terminate any remaining contracts with Harvard by June 6 (estimated at $100 million across nine agencies). More information on the Administration’s actions against Harvard can be found in EducationCounsel’s Deep Dive here.

USED announces recognition of June as ‘Title IX Month’ and new Title IX investigations: On June 2, USED announced that it is recognizing June as ‘Title IX Month’ – in the past, “typically known as Pride Month” – “in honor of the fifty-third anniversary of Title IX of the Educational Amendments (1972) being signed into law.” Additionally, USED’s OCR launched new Title IX investigations at the University of Wyoming and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Colorado. At the University of Wyoming, a sorority filed a complaint for allegedly allowing a transgender woman in “female-only intimate spaces.” The investigation into JCPS relates to the district’s policy on single-sex overnight accommodations.

USED notifies Columbia University’s accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI violation: On June 4, USED announced that OCR notified Columbia’s accreditor that the institution is in “violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the [Middle States Commission on Higher Education].” The action follows OCR’s investigation into Columbia regarding its Title VI obligations, in which USED’s OCR and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’ OCR determined that “Columbia University acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students.” USED Secretary McMahon stated, “We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbia’s compliance with accreditation standards including compliance with federal civil rights laws.”

USED’s OCR opens Title VI and disability-discrimination investigation into Green Bay Area Public School District: On May 28, USED’s OCR announced an investigation into Green Bay Area Public School District following a complaint filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), which alleges that the district discriminated against a student by prioritizing special education services for students of other races. Specifically, the complaint claims the district “prioritizes special education services to students based on racial ‘priority groups,’ a category that the student did not fall into because he is white.”

USED announces Dr. Amber Northern as Senior Advisor at the Institute for Education Sciences (IES): On May 27, USED announced that Dr. Amber Northern will serve as a senior advisor to USED Secretary McMahon, “with a focus on reforming the IES.” USED noted that Dr. Northern’s role would include working with IES Acting Director Dr. Matthew Soldner and other IES staff to “ensure IES is delivering high-quality and actionable research, relevant data, and proven best practices.” Dr. Northern is on leave from her position as Senior Vice President for Research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where she oversaw the Institute's robust research portfolio and staff.

U.S. Department of State:

State Department orders pause on new international student visas: On May 27, the State Department directed U.S. embassies and consulates to pause all new student visa interviews effective immediately ahead of greater social media screening and vetting procedures. In remarks the following day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted a “vigorous new visa policy” to identify and exclude applicants who express antisemitic views and/or are critical of Israel. Secretary Rubio separately announced that the State Department will “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” These actions apply to all international students, not just those studying at Harvard.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ):

DOJ opens Title IX investigation into California schools regarding its policy allowing transgender girls and women to compete in sports: On May 28, DOJ informed California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Jurupa Unified School District, and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) of its investigation to determine whether the California state law allowing transgender women and girls to compete in sports violates Title IX. The issue being considered in the investigation is concurrent with a lawsuit, Save Girls’ Sports, et al. v. Thurmond, et al., in which a transgender girl replaced a cisgender girl on a varsity cross-country. The allegations claim that AB 1266 – which was passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law in August 2013, and codified in the California Education Code – conflicts with Title IX.

Congress:

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) releases full score of estimated budgetary effects of the House Budget Reconciliation bill: On June 4, CBO released a full score of H.R. 1, the House Budget Reconciliation bill, as passed by the House on May 22. The CBO estimated the bill would add over $2.4 trillion to primary deficits over ten years. The projections also show that an estimated 7.8 million people would lose Medicaid coverage.

Senate and House Committees hold hearings on the educational priorities in the President’s Budget Request for FY2026 with USED Secretary McMahon: During the week of June 2, Senate and House Committees held hearings with USED Secretary McMahon to examine the Trump Administration’s educational priorities and proposed FY2026 budget request for USED. On June 4, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education,” during which Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) and other Committee Republicans called for sweeping reforms—including dismantling the Department of Education—arguing that federal overreach has contributed to declining student performance. Republican Committee members emphasized the need for parental voice in education, as well as the importance of local community input, expanding school choice, and aligning education with workforce needs. Republican members also criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Title IX enforcement on gender identity, and rising antisemitism on college campuses. Additionally, Republicans members advocated for holding colleges financially accountable for student loan defaults and expanding career-focused alternatives, including apprenticeships and short-term Pell Grants.

During the hearing, Democratic Committee members, led by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), countered Republican arguments in favor of closing USED, stating that the proposed cuts and restructuring would weaken essential civil rights protections, reduce support for underserved students, and hinder oversight of predatory practices in higher education. The Democratic members defended the Department’s role in enforcing equity and access, and Title IX, while opposing cuts to programs, such as TRIO and adult education. Democratic members also expressed alarm over the proposed elimination of mental health grants and staffing reductions at USED’s OCR, warning these moves could threaten progress made in educational opportunity and equity.

In the Senate, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee also held a hearing to hear testimony from USED Secretary McMahon on the FY2026 President’s budget request for USED. In her remarks, Secretary McMahon emphasized decentralization, efficiency, and “results-oriented reforms,” claiming local control would better serve students and taxpayers. While Republican senators largely supported her message and proposals, Democratic senators raised significant concerns about cuts to student support programs and civil rights enforcement. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) raised concerns to Secretary McMahon about the proposed elimination of the TRIO program. Secretary McMahon responded that the proposed elimination was based on the lack of accountability mechanisms for TRIO, adding, “we aren't able to see the effectiveness across the board.” Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) questioned Secretary McMahon on the significant reductions in force (RIFs) at the agency, asking whether the Department conducted “an analysis to assess …how the Department would still be able to execute the law after losing so many employees,” to which Secretary McMahon responded, “we did talk to the Department itself,” but that there was not an analysis conducted.

Democratic Appropriations Committee leadership call for Trump Administration to release FY2025 spending plans: On May 28, Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought calling attention to the Trump Administration’s failure to submit detailed spend plans to the Appropriations Committees for each federal agency, detailing funding to the program level, as required by the FY2025 CR. Ranking Members Murray and DeLauro wrote that, “while the Committees began receiving some spending plans from departments and agencies consistent with the 45-day requirement [following enactment of the CR], many agencies’ plans still have yet to be submitted or blatantly omit basic funding details at your agency’s direction.” The letter “demands” each federal agency’s spend plans by May 31.

Senate:

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee holds hearing to consider USED nominations: On June 5, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing to consider nominees for USED, including Penny Schwinn to be Deputy Secretary of Education and Kimberly Richey to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. In his remarks at the hearing, Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) expressed his support for Dr. Schwinn, noting her “strong record of improving education systems, including as Tennessee Commissioner of Education and Chief Deputy Commissioner of Education in Texas.” Chair Cassidy shared similar remarks for Ms. Richey, calling attention to her “extensive experience from previous administrations and state agencies; addressing discriminatory practices in K-12 schools and universities nationwide.” Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) expressed concern over the Department’s cuts to mental health grants; Dr. Schwinn stated that the Department will open an new competition for those grants and committed to an “efficient, effective and outcomes-oriented department.”

Senate Commerce Committee Democrats send letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnik regarding delays in funding to states: On May 30, Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications Ranking Member Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling on the Administration “to immediately release the $42 billion allocated for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” The Ranking Members wrote that “universal access to high-speed internet is essential for jobs [and] education” and that states are ready to “build networks” to support their communities. The letter concludes, “We urge you to move forward with the submitted BEAD plans and deliver on the promise of the BEAD program without further delay.”

House:

House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approves FY2026 House Agriculture Appropriations bill: On June 5, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY2026 House Agriculture Appropriations bill sending the bill to the full Appropriations Committee for consideration, with a markup expected on June 11. According to a Subcommittee fact sheet, the bill includes “$118.1 billion in mandatory funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as requested by the President. This funding reflects the current authorization of the program and will be adjusted when Congress enacts new program changes.” This level is approximately $4.3 billion below the FY2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) level, which is a decrease of 3.5% below the FY2025 CR level. Full text of the legislation is available here and a summary is here.

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Walberg issues statement on Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on apprenticeships: On May28, House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) issued a statement on a GAO report outlining the benefits of apprenticeship programs. The report titled, “Apprenticeship: Earn-And-Learn Opportunities Can Benefit Workers and Employers,” studied earn-and-learn opportunities, which can give individuals a mix of work experience and instruction on in-demand skills, while they earn a wage. The report identified at least 26 programs across five federal agencies (the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, Labor, and Veterans Affairs) that could support earn-and-learn efforts. Chair Walberg expressed support for the programs, stating that, “Committee Republicans are committed to equipping more jobseekers with the skills needed in the modern economy and this includes expanding training options.”

House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats send second letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy regarding Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the agency: On May 28, House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY), wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requesting “answers on the indiscriminate 25 percent staffing cut and the elimination of various critical support programs at the nation’s public health agency.” The Democratic leaders wrote, “Despite our numerous attempts to obtain information on employee terminations at the agencies under HHS, you have not provided Congress with a full accounting of the number of resignations, retirements, or layoffs that have been made as part of either the RIF or the termination of thousands of probationary employees in February.” The leaders “insisted” that the Secretary provide more information to the Committee by June 10.

U.S. Courts:

Trump Administration filed emergency petition at the Supreme Court to allow for reductions in force to proceed: On June 6, the Trump Administration filed an emergency petition at the Supreme Court to allow the Administration to continue its reduction in force (RIF) at the USED. The filing challenges a May 22 preliminary injunction granted by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts which halted USED’s significant RIFs, as well as President Trump’s March 20 Executive Order directing the Secretary of Education to “facilitate the closure” of USED. According to the Associated Press, the Trump Administration claims that the Massachusetts judge “exceeded his authority” in reversing the layoffs of USED staff, and that the RIFs will help in “streamlining the department and eliminating the discretionary functions that, in the administration’s view, are better left to the states.”

National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) sue Trump Administration regarding Executive Order (EO): On May 27 and May 30, respectively, NPR and PBS filed separate lawsuits against the Trump Administration over President Trump’s May 1 Executive Order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” which directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Board to “cease direct funding to NPR and PBS…to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage.” NPR’s lawsuit alleges the Administration is violating the First Amendment, as well as the Public Broadcasting Act, by coercing radio stations with threats of “the loss of funds if they continue to exercise their editorial discretion in ways disfavored by the Administration.” Specifically, PBS’ lawsuit alleges First Amendment violations “out of a desire to alter the content of speech is blatant viewpoint discrimination,” adding that the EO “smacks of retaliation for, among other things, perceived political slights in news coverage.” As noted above, President Trump also submitted a budget rescission package to Congress on June 4, calling for the rescission of $1.1 billion in previously appropriated funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which provides grants to NPR and PBS.

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On June 10 at 10:15 a.m., the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold a hearing titled, “Screentime in Schools.” Witnesses have not yet been announced. The hearing will be held in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On June 10 at 2:00 p.m., the House Rules Committee will hold a hearing to consider H.R. 4, Rescissions Act of 2025. The hearing will be held in H-313, The Capitol. More information is here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On June 10 at 12:30 p.m., the Brookings Institution will hold a webinar titled, “Promoting high-quality K-12 STEM instruction to prepare students for the future.” Experts from Brookings’ Brown Center on Education Policy will discuss how teachers can productively engage K-12 students in effective STEM instruction. Speakers include: Latrenda Knighten, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM); Jennifer Childress Self, Program Manager for Science and Engineering at WestEd; and John Pecore, Professor of Teaching, Leadership, and Research at the University of West Florida and President of the Association for Science Teacher Education. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On May 21, Bellwether released a report titled, “Beyond the Bottom Line: A Framework for K–12 Fiscal Accountability.” This report provides a framework to state advocates and policymakers for ensuring K-12 education funding is both effective and equitable. The framework contains four components: strong foundational fiscal policy structure; purposeful local planning and engagement; transparent and comprehensive data reporting; and capacity building, tiered support, and interventions.
• On June 4, EducationCounsel released a policy brief titled, “Not Just Financial Aid: Enabling Affordability Guarantees Through Tuition Policy.” This policy brief explores how affordability guarantees can be designed to improve clarity, equity, and access—while also acknowledging the trade-offs, nuances, and unintended consequences that must be addressed for long-term policy success.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 3587

A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to recognize digital skills and digital literacy as critical adult education and literacy objectives, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)

H.R. 3590

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify that determinations regarding whether an individual who is a contractor providing services to an educational organization is a full time employee for purposes of requirements relating to an employer's responsibility to provide health coverage are subject to rules that apply to employees of educational organizations.
Sponsor: Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV)

H.R. 3605

A bill to establish the Strength in Diversity Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

H.R. 3606

A bill to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore the right to individual civil actions in cases involving disparate impact, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

H.R. 3624

A bill to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
Sponsor: Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA)

H.R. 3625

A bill to prohibit the allocation of funds to the National Endowment for Democracy.
Sponsor: Rep. Elijah Crane (R-AZ)

H.R. 3681

A bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to certain entities to establish workforce training programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

H.Res. 442

A resolution recognizing the importance of California's public higher education systems and reaffirming the United States' commitment to supporting these institutions.
Sponsor: Ami Bera (D-CA)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 1924

A bill to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
Sponsor: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)