The information covered below is from October 3, 2025, through October 16, 2025.

Highlights:

• As the federal government shutdown continues, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget announced on October 10 sweeping reductions in force across multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
• On October 10, the Trump Administration extended its invitation to join a Higher Education Compact to all institutions of higher education. Six of nine institutions initially invited have rejected the invitation.
• On October 9, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing titled, “AI's Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families.”

Administration

U.S. Department of Education:

Trump Administration issues reductions in force (RIFs) during federal government shutdown: As the federal government shutdown continues, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced on October 10 sweeping reductions in force (RIFs) across multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Education (USED) and Health and Human Services (HHS). The RIFs at USED resulted in the firing of 466 staff members, representing roughly 20% of the agency’s staff following the RIFs earlier this year. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is citing the government shutdown as part of the justification for the RIFs, though these actions represent permanent layoffs, rather than temporary furloughs due to the lapse in appropriations. OMB has also advised agencies that “Once fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted, agencies should revise their RIFs as needed to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions;” however, it is unclear, at this time, if agencies will exercise this option or to what extent. These terminations are consistent with the Administration’s previously-identified goal of eliminating USED.

On September 30, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) preemptively challenged the RIFs in federal court, and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on October 15.

There are not yet publicly-available records of where the staffing was cut, but (based on unofficial reporting) the RIFs likely include, in some cases, entire programmatic teams that serve as the primary point of contact for grant recipients and state and local leaders. Initial unofficial information indicates the RIFs include nearly every staff member in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), along with a large portion of remaining staff in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), including most staff responsible for overseeing formula programs (such as Titles I, II, III, and IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)), competitive grant programs, and programs serving migrant students and American Indian and Alaskan Native students. Reporting regarding the RIFs by K-12 Dive can be found here and here. The Office of Postsecondary Education (including the offices responsible for overseeing the TRIO programs, and the programs supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)) and the Office of Communications and Outreach were also impacted, including the team responsible for communicating with states and districts. Reporting regarding the RIFs by Inside Higher Education can be found here and by Education Week can be found here.

Members of Congress have raised concerns regarding the agency’s ability to meet its statutory obligations following the RIFs, including House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott, who called it, “wasting millions of taxpayer dollars to fire and rehire government employees.” Many of the affected workers administer statutorily-required programs and functions, including reviewing and approving grant applications, monitoring program performance to ensure funds are used appropriately, and providing technical assistance to states, districts, and other grantees. In their absence, grantees may experience interruptions or delays in federal services and support. Furthermore, the few remaining staff in OESE and other offices may be unable to effectively design, launch, score, award, support, and monitor new competitive grant programs, process continuation decisions for existing multiyear grants, or consider states’ requests for increased flexibility under ESSA via waivers, ED-FLEX, or state plan amendments.

Additionally, at least three of the five remaining regional offices within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)—including Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.—saw further reductions in staff, despite absorbing thousands of open cases from the seven other regional offices shuttered during the previous RIFs in March (San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston). Reporting regarding the RIFs by Education Week can be found here. While unofficial, there are also reports that the Denver regional office was also impacted, meaning the Kansas City regional office may be the only remaining regional office. Reporting regarding the RIFs by NPR can be found here. Combined with the near-total elimination of the offices administering special education programs, these additional cuts to OCR likely leave students with disabilities and their families—along with other students experiencing discrimination or other denials of their rights—without an effective administrative means of enforcing their civil rights on the federal level.

For more information on the recent RIFs, please see our most recent EducationCounsel Alert from October 15, 2025 here.

Trump Administration extends opportunity to join Higher Education Compact to all institutions of higher education; six of nine initial invitees reject invitation: On October 1, the White House issued a memorandum to nine colleges and universities titled, “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which “lay[s] out a set of operating principles that universities would agree to in exchange for preferential access to federal funds, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). Subsequently, on October 14, the Administration extended the invitation to participate in the Compact to all institutions of higher education (IHEs), according to Inside Higher Education. Among the original nine institutions invited to the Compact, on October 10, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) became the first IHE to publicly respond by publishing its response to USED, in which it declined to participate. On October 15, Brown University also declined to sign the Compact; University President Christina H. Paxon wrote in a letter to USED that the Compact’s “provisions restricting academic freedom and undermining autonomy would impede the University’s ability to fulfill its mission.” Four other institutions have also rejected the compact: Dartmouth University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and University of Virginia. While no institution has yet officially agreed to participate, the University of Texas Systems Chairman Kevin Eltife, has said that the System is “honored” that UT Austin has been selected for participation in the Compact and “welcome[s] the new opportunity presented to us.”

Senate confirms Trump Administration appointees to USED and HHS: On October 3, the Senate voted 51-46 to confirm “en bloc” several appointees to USED and HHS. The following nominees were approved:

• David Barker, of Iowa, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education;
• Kirsten Baesler, of North Dakota, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education;
• Kimberly Richey, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; and
• Mary Riley, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs; and
• Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (HHS).

Congress

Senate:

Senate continues standoff leading to federal government shutdown: On October 1, the federal government began a shutdown after the Senate failed to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend federal funding. Republicans remain committed to passing a “clean” continuing resolution that would reopen the government, while Democrats have continued to seek an extension of health insurance subsidies, reversal of Medicaid funding cuts, and an end to fast-track procedures to rescind funds, as well as prohibiting “pocket rescissions.” As of October 16, the Senate has unsuccessfully voted ten times without garnering the 60 bipartisan votes needed to bring an end to debate on a “clean” CR and the Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said they will no longer vote on the Democrats’ version of the CR.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee holds hearing on impact of AI on workforce and healthcare: On October 9, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing titled, “AI's Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families.” The Committee heard from five witnesses: Dr. Russ Altman, Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics, Medicine and Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University; John Bailey, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI); Harriet Pearson, Managing Principal at Axia Advisory (WV); Dr. Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology at Boston College; and Carlos Aramayo, President of UNITE HERE Local in Boston, MA.

In opening remarks, Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) spoke about the impact of AI on all areas of society. Specific to education and the workforce, Chair Cassidy remarked, “AI can help teachers personalize their students’ education to meet their unique needs. With regards to the workforce, there will be disruption, no doubt. But it does not have to be a bad disruption. Although some jobs may be lost to AI, many predict that AI will create even more jobs. To prepare for this, we need to make sure Americans are trained with tools to stay competitive in a 21st Century AI economy.” Chair Cassidy also added, “AI holds enormous potential to improve people’s lives, but it carries risks.” He noted the issue of chatbots and exploitation of children and spoke about a recent letter he and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent to AI developers calling for “stronger safeguards to protect children.”  Chair Cassidy closed by arguing, “Government should not stifle innovation in AI, but it should absolutely make sure that privacy is protected, that families are protected, that children are safe and that there are safeguards in place between AI and workers. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. But something is needed.”

Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), in his remarks, said that AI was “among the most difficult challenges the U.S. must confront” and raised concerns about AI “destroy[ing] millions of American jobs.” Prior to the hearing, on October 6, Senator Sanders issued a report on AI titled, “The Big Tech Oligarchs’ War Against Workers,” which claimed that that “AI and automation could eliminate nearly 100 million American jobs over the next decade — while billionaires and corporate executives [would] reap record profits.”

In witness testimony and questions, only John Bailey from AEI focused his remarks on education. Bailey stated that, “The education sector offers one of the clearest and most immediate examples of AI’s potential to enhance human learning and productivity. In classrooms, AI is already reshaping how students learn, how teachers teach, and how schools operate” and cited examples of how AI can support homework assistance, tutoring, personalized learning, teacher preparation and productivity, and administrative efficiency. Bailey also spoke about some risks with AI use, such as the over-reliance on the technology and cheating and academic integrity. In his remarks, he provided a number of recommendations to Congress for addressing AI in education, including the need to invest in research and development, supporting independent evaluation of AI platforms, and the need to increase transparency of AI systems. Bailey closed by arguing that, “With sustained federal leadership, bold public-private partnerships, and a commitment to responsible design, AI can become one of the most powerful forces for improving learning, supporting teachers, and expanding opportunity.

House:

House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott hosts forum on impact of Trump Administration’s policies on people with disabilities: On October 15, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) hosted a civil rights forum “to discuss how to fight the Trump Administration’s attacks on disabled Americans.” The forum was moderated by Dante Allen, Former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration during the Biden Administration, and the panel included Jennifer Mathis, Esq., Deputy Director at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Julie Christiansen, PhD, Executive Director of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE); Selene Almazan, Esq., Legal Director at the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA); and Erin Prangley, Director of Public Policy at the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD).

In his remarks at the event, Ranking Member Scott called attention to the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate USED, which he stated, “was created by Congress to protect and enforce students’ civil rights and ensure that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education.” Ranking Member Scott also expressed concern regarding the October 10 RIFs at USED, which included, “almost everyone at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).” Concluding his remarks, Ranking Member Scott expressed his continued support for the “bipartisan, bicameral Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, [which] incentivizes states and employers who currently use 14(c) certificates to work with the disability community to update business models and create fully integrated and competitive employment opportunities.” Currently, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) uses 14(c) certifications to authorize employers to pay subminimum wages to certain workers with disabilities.

House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott and Representative DeSaulnier request hearing on gun violence in schools: On October 16, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) sent a letter to Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) requesting a Committee hearing on the epidemic of gun violence in schools. The letter references the recent school shootings at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, “which represent just two of the 118 incidents of gunfire on school grounds so far in 2025 alone.” The Ranking Members explain that because the Committee has jurisdiction over school safety and school-based mental health programs, “the Committee has the unique opportunity to foster solutions by holding a hearing on gun violence in schools and considering legislation which would support the behavioral needs of students and youth.”

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On October 21 at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Commerce Committee will hold an Executive Session and consider legislation, including S. 1070, National STEM Week Act. The bill, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and co-sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would “establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.” The hearing will be held in Russell Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On October 20 at 2:00 p.m., Bellwether and the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER) will co-host an online event titled, “The Pandemic Learning Project: Using Research to Shape Stronger Policy.” The event will feature an overview of how pandemic-era research can support education leaders navigating current challenges in the education space, and why this type of rigorous research and analysis is crucial for policy design. Speakers include: Micheal DeArmond, Director of Policy at CALDER; Dan Goldhaber, Director at CALDER; Andy Rotherham, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Bellwether; and Melissa Steel King, Senior Partner at Bellwether. More information is here.

• On October 20 at 4:30 p.m., the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a webinar titled, “Are Cell Phones in Schools to Blame for Poor Academic Outcomes?” Martin R. West, Academic Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Vice Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, will explain why cell phones could be causing these test score declines. Then, education experts will discuss what the cell phone bans look like in practice, whether they go far enough, and how they may affect teachers. The webinar will be moderated by Robert Pondiscio, Senior Fellow at AEI, and other speakers include Alex Baron, Middle School Principal at E. L. Haynes Public Charter School and Virginia (Ginny) Gentles, Education Freedom and Parental Rights Director at the Defense of Freedom Institute. More information and registration are here.

• On October 21 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Urban Institute and the Berkeley Opportunity Lab will host a conference titled, “Cash Assistance for Children: Research Roundup and Policy Future.” The event will examine the evolving conversation about the benefits and long-term impacts of safety net investments in children. The convening will also explore where there may be opportunities for policy movement, more research, or different political approaches. Maryland Governor Wes Moore will deliver keynote remarks, and other speakers include: Sarah Rosen Wartell, President of the Urban Institute; Doug Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum; and Cecilia Rouse, President and Brookings Institution; among others. More information and registration are here.

• On October 24 at 1:00 p.m., the Brookings Institution will hold a webinar titled, “The Importance of Real Skills for the AI World.” The webinar will cover findings from a forthcoming Brookings Center for Universal Education report on the potential impacts of generative AI on education finds that the reality is more complex—in fact, in an ever-digitalizing world, real skills that can’t be replaced by AI are of even greater importance—and could be under threat. A panel discussion will consider how to support students in developing real skills for an AI world, drawing on outcomes from the recent “Real skills for real life” AASA summit. Speakers include: Jon Valant, Director of the Brown Center on Education Policy; Ellen Galinsky, President of the Families and Work Institute and Senior Research Advisor for AASA, The School Superintendents Association; John Malloy, Senior Vice President of the Leadership Network at AASA; Rebecca Winthrop, Director of Brookings’ Center for Universal Education; and Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Director of the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education at the University of Southern California. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On October 8, the Fordham Institute, with support from The Wallace Foundation, published a new report titled, “Who’s on Board? School Boards and Political Representation in an Age of Conflict.” Political scientists David Houston and Michael Hartney conducted a national survey of school board members, gathering responses from more than 5,000 board members across 3,000 districts, comparing members’ political and demographic identities, as well as their views on controversial education issues, to those of the communities they serve. Findings indicated a mismatch between the demographic makeup of board members and their respective communities. Specifically, in 2023, 87% of school board members were white (+1% compared to 2001), while only 59% of the U.S. population were white (-10% compared to 2001). In addition to other demographic changes, the researchers concluded that school boards, "the nation’s most local form of democracy may, in important ways, be drifting out of step with its citizens."

• On October 8, the Center for Democracy and Technology published a report titled, “Hand in Hand: Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks to Students.” Researchers studied the current status of AI use in schools along with four emerging risks associated with this technology, all of which increase the more that a school uses AI: data breaches or ransomware attacks; tech-enabled sexual harassment and bullying; AI systems that do not work as intended; and troubling interactions between students and technology. The analysis revealed several key findings: nearly one-third of students (31%) said that they have had back-and-forth conversations with AI for personal reasons (e.g., not for schoolwork) on a school-provided device, meanwhile only one in ten teachers indicated they received training or information on how to respond if they suspect a student’s use of AI is detrimental to their well-being. Over one third of students (38%) reported that it is easier to talk to AI than their parents, and over two thirds of parents and students agreed that parents have no idea how students are interacting with AI.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 5675

A bill to increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)

H.R. 5691

A bill to prohibit the provision of Federal funds to a local educational agency that imposes or enforces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on students at the schools served by such agency.
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)

H.R. 5693

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit certain private-equity and sovereign wealth fund agreements involving intercollegiate athletics.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA)

H.R. 5705

A bill to authorize the reimbursement by the Federal Government of State funds used to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in the event of a Government shutdown.
Sponsor: Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI)

H.R. 5720

A bill to provide reimbursement to certain Federal employees for childcare expenses during the lapse in appropriations beginning on or about October 1, 2025.
Sponsor: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

H.R. 5731

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities, to train school food service personnel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

H.R. 5740

A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require mandatory funding for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

H.R. 5753

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase reimbursement rates of school meals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

H.R. 5759

A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to change the competitive bidding process for infant formula manufacturers under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

H.Res. 793

A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 2025 as "National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month."
Sponsor: Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA)

H.Res. 797

A resolution expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 2987

A bill to establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to college for all, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)

S. 2990

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to combat campus sexual assault, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

S. 3010

A bill to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve provisions relating to dyslexia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)