The information covered below is from September 22, 2025, through October 2, 2025.

Highlights:

• On October 1, the federal government shut down when Congress failed to enact a continuing resolution to provide temporary funding, while further budget negotiations to determine Fiscal Year 2026 funding continue to take place.
• On October 1, the White House issued a memorandum to nine colleges and universities titled the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
• During the week of September 29, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee – known as the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee – met to discuss federal student loan-related changes that are necessary as a result of the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
• On September 25, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced two new proposed Secretarial priorities for discretionary grant competitions: “Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness” and “Meaningful Learning Opportunities.”

Administration

White House:

White House urges colleges and universities to agree to Compact in exchange for preferential funding: On October 1, the White House issued a memorandum to nine colleges and universities titled the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which “lay[s] out a set of operating principles that it wants universities to agree to in exchange for preferential access to federal funds, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). According to The Hill, “among the demands are reforms to the way race or ethnicity are used in admission and hiring practices, institutional neutrality, student grading and demanding that transgender women be excluded from women’s locker rooms and sports teams…revis[isions to] “government structures” or other systems that the White House says stifle free speech. Additionally, The Hill notes, “The Trump administration also wants schools to freeze their effective tuition rates for five years, post the earnings of students who graduated with certain majors and expand opportunities for service members. For schools with an endowment higher than $2 billion, the compact says they will not charge undergraduates going into hard sciences. The Trump administration also wants a commitment schools will not have more than a 15 percent foreign student population and that no specific country will have more than 5 percent of their total student body.” The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) further reported that a letter attached to the memorandum stated that, “Universities that sign on will get “multiple positive benefits,” including “substantial and meaningful federal grants.”

The nine institutions that received the memo include: Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Arizona, Brown University and the University of Virginia. May Mailman, senior adviser for special projects at the White House, indicated to The Hill that these institutions were chosen because, “They have a president who is a reformer or a board that has really indicated they are committed to a higher-quality education.”

First Lady launches new global initiative for children: On September 23, First Lady Melania Trump announced a new initiative titled, “Fostering the Future Together,” a global coalition aimed at improving children’s well‑being through education, innovation, and technology. According to the White House, the initiative’s goal is “to ensure that every child can flourish in the digital era.” Other goals include unification of efforts around children, technology, and education; partnering with the private sector to expand access to education technology; and sharing strategies and addressing risks related to AI. International leaders or their spouses will be invited to join the coalition, which will meet for the first time at the White House in “early 2026.”

President Trump issues EO to continue certain Federal Advisory Committees: On September 29, President Trump issued an Executive Order to continue certain Federal Advisory Committees through September 30, 2027. Among the Advisory Committees extended is the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which advises the President, through the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, on to strengthening the educational capacity of HBCUs. Additionally, the EO extended the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which develops evidence-based recommendations for the President on matters involving science, technology, and innovation policy. The EO also extends the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extends timeline for federal agencies to submit Action Plans on Race and Ethnicity Data and to make their race and ethnicity standards consistent with updated standards: On September 26, OMB announced that it was extending the timeline for implementation of components of its Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15): Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The goals of SPD 15 are to ensure the comparability of race and ethnicity across federal datasets and to maximize the quality of these data by ensuring the format, language, and procedures for collecting the data are consistent. Specifically, OMB announced the extension of the timeline by which Chief Financial Officers Act Agencies and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must submit to OMB an Action Plan on Race and Ethnicity Data from September 28, 2025, to the new deadline of March 28, 2026. Additionally, the standards require federal information collections that collect race and ethnicity data to be made consistent with the updated standards as soon as possible, but not later than March 28, 2029. OMB is extending this deadline to September 28, 2029.

President Trump terminates members of the National Council on the Humanities: On October 1, the Trump Administration informed a majority of the members of the National Council on the Humanities, a group of up to 26 scholars who advise the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), that their positions had been terminated. Members of the council are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve six-year terms. According to NEH, only four members of the Council remain, which were all appointed during President Trump’s first term.

The NEH and National Endowment for the Arts were established in 1965 as separate, independent agencies by the “National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.” NEH supports professional development programs for K-12 educators, higher education faculty, and humanities professionals to study a variety of humanities topics. In April, the Administration cancelled several NEH grants, citing the cancellation as a result of awards being, “at variance with agency priorities, including but not limited to those on diversity, equity, and inclusion (or DEI) and environmental justice, as well as awards that may not inspire public confidence in the use of taxpayer funds.”

Religious Liberty Commission hosts third hearing on religion in public education: On September 29, the Religious Liberty Commission held its third hearing to discuss “religious liberty issues in education” including “school funding and educational choice.” According to the commission, the hearing’s objective was to “understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in the educational setting, recognize present threats to religious liberty in education, and identify opportunities to secure religious liberty in this context for the future.” The commission was established by President Trump through Executive Order on May 1. Among the panelists and witnesses were Dr. Hutz Hertzberg, Chief Education Officer at Turning Point Education and Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College. The commission will next meet on November 17th to discuss religious liberty in the military. According to a summary of the hearing from the Commission, the hearing opened with a panel “on violence against people and communities of faith…including testimony from friends of Charlie Kirk, who spoke of his commitment to faith and free speech and advocacy for religious liberty.” A full recording of the hearing can be found here. 

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED and Health and Human Services (HHS) issue shutdown contingency plans: Prior to the shutdown of the federal government, the Trump Administration published contingency plans which identify how each federal agency will operate during the shutdown, including which staff and functions are designated as “essential” – meaning they will continue despite the shutdown – and which are “non-essential” – meaning those staff are furloughed and those functions likely paused for the duration of the shutdown (or until the agencies amend their plans). 

• USED’s contingency plan calls for furloughing up to 95% of the (non-federal student aid) staff. The remaining staff and parts of the student aid workforce will remain in place as “essential” workers. The plan notes that the agency would not award any new grants and is halting investigations of civil rights complaints.
• HHS’s contingency plan calls for furloughing 41% of staff, with Operating Divisions that have a substantial direct service component retaining relatively more of their staff during the shutdown. For the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, states have two years to obligate discretionary funds—and they receive more than $3 billion each year in mandatory funding that is not subject to the yearly appropriations process. Accordingly, States should have sufficient funds on-hand to maintain current enrollments. Impacts to Head Start should be muted as grantees receive funding (grant awards) on a rolling basis. Only a handful of Head Start programs were due to receive their federal grant funds on October 1, 2025. These grantees have indicated to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the past that they can operate in the event of a shutdown. However, a prolonged shutdown lasting beyond November 1, 2025, could result in some disruption to services. 

Negotiated Rulemaking proceeds to address federal student loan-related changes as a result of One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): During the week of September 29, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee – known as the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee – met to discuss federal student loan-related changes that are necessary as a result of the enactment of OBBBA. Prior to the meeting, USED released discussion drafts and materials outlining the Administration’s proposed plans for implementation of OBBBA relating to fixed loan repayment plans; student loan limit provisions and definitions; miscellaneous loan repayment provisions and Public Service Loan Forgiveness; Income-Driven Repayment plans provisions; and loan deferment, forbearance, and rehabilitation provisions. According to Inside Higher Education, one of the key issues discussed during the Negotiated Rulemaking session was which professional programs be eligible for the $200,000 student loan cap included in OBBBA, with the Department proposing to designate only 10 degree programs as professional degrees, including law, medicine and theology. For more comprehensive summaries of the Negotiated Rulemaking Sessions, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has posted coverage for the sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Committee is expected to meet through October 3 and then will reconvene in November before voting on the regulatory changes.

USED seeks public comment on Institute of Education Sciences (IES) redesign: On September 25, USED issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public feedback by October 15, 2025, on its redesign of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) “to ensure that its core functions—research, statistics, evaluation, and dissemination—are carried out in ways that maximize relevance, timeliness, and usability for the education stakeholders who rely on them.” Among other things, the RFI identifies seven goals for the redesign and invites comments on how IES might approach the following four specific areas of interest: 

1. Prioritize and streamline federal data collections to balance burden and benefit.
2. Leverage its grantmaking to advance impactful, practitioner-relevant research on pressing topics, with specific input on the identification of those topics.
3. Improve the reach and utility of evidence dissemination.
4. Support states and districts through more responsive technical assistance and capacity building, including building states’ capacity for using evidence and creating a culture of continuous improvement.

USED Secretary McMahon proposes two additional Secretarial priorities for possible use in grant competitions: On September 25, USED Secretary Linda McMahon announced two new proposed Secretarial priorities for discretionary grant competitions: “Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness” and “Meaningful Learning Opportunities.” Both of these proposed supplemental grant priorities are open for public comment until October 27, 2025. They join two other proposed priorities—”Artificial Intelligence” and “Promoting Patriotic Education”—and three finalized priorities—”Evidence-Based Literacy,” “Educational Choice,” and “Returning Education to the States.” Once finalized, Secretarial priorities can be incorporated in the design of any of the agency’s competitive grant programs, as opposed to formula-funded programs.

• The “Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness” priority would help the Administration shift more USED funding to a “range of education pathways that meet the needs of a rapidly changing economy.” Specifically, the priority includes a list of potential strategies that could be utilized in future competitive grants, including “workforce development programs that are aligned with State priorities,” “career and/or college exploration and advising opportunities,” “financial tools to compare the cost and benefits of the career options and educational pathways,” and “development of talent marketplaces (including credential registries, skills-based job description generators, and learning and employment records) that connect employers, students, and jobseekers.”
• The “Meaningful Learning Opportunities” priority identifies a list of academic strategies and instructional practices that, according to USED, are designed to “prepare students for success in an increasingly complex, interconnected and technology-rich world and ensure all students are prepared for employment, enrollment, enlistment, or entrepreneurship.”

See our updated Deep Dive for more information on this topic in general and the Secretary’s priorities in particular.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ends E-Rate subsidies for Internet access on school buses and wireless hotspots: On September 30, the Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to remove both E-Rate subsidies for Internet access on school buses and wireless hotspots that could be checked out of libraries.  The subsidies, initiated by the Biden Administration during COVID-era school closures and continued in 2024, were designed to help address the “digital divide” especially for students in rural communities and low-income households. According to federal data cited by K-12 Dive, “during fiscal year 2025, schools and districts requested $42.6 million to use E-rate funds for hotspots and $15.3 million for school bus Wi-Fi.” Prior to the vote, over 50 House and Senate Democrats wrote to the FCC in opposition to repealing the rule allowing libraries and schools to provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators and urging the FCC to continue to allow E-Rate funds to support Wi-Fi on school buses. However, the Senate voted previously, along party lines, in a 50-38 vote to overturn the FCC’s decision to cover hotspots under E-rate.

USED announces $500 million in grant awards for Charter Schools: On September 24, USED announced the release of $500 million to the Charter Schools Programs (CSP). Through the State Entity Grants program within CSP, the Department will award grants to six states totaling $293.7 million over the next five years to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. The Department will also award an additional $51.7 million in supplemental funding to existing State Entity grantees to support the creation or expansion of charter schools focused on civics education; career and technical education; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, among other innovative charter school models. Additionally, USED will award $263 million over the next five years to 22 new grantees to replicate and expand a total of 147 high-quality charter schools across the country through Charter Management Organization grants within CSP. The Department will also make additional awards through the Model Development and Dissemination Grants, Developer Grants, State Facilities Incentive Grants, and Credit Enhancement Grants within CSP.

The announcement comes following the Department’s recent reprogramming of $60 million from other USED programs to increase funding for the Charter Schools program to a total of $500 million. According to Politico’s reporting (subscription required), funding that was reprogrammed included the source of the increased funding as $31 million reprogrammed from the Ready to Learn program, $15 million from the Magnet Schools Assistance Program, $9 million from the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, $3 million from the Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program, and $2 million from the Assistance for Arts Education Program. 

USED announces $153 million in grant awards for American History and Civics Seminars Grants: On September 29, USED announced the release of over $153 million in new grants through the American History and Civics Seminars Program, which are largely being awarded to institutions of higher education with independent civics centers and non-profit organizations focused on American History and civics education. Awards highlighted by USED include those to support seminars on America’s Semiquincentennial and civics literacy initiatives.

The announcement comes following the Department’s recent reprogramming of $137 million to the American History and Civics Education program to supplement its previously approved funding by Congress of $23 million. According to Politico’s reporting (subscription required), USED cut funding from two teacher preparation grant programs as part of the reprogramming, including the Supporting Effective Educators Development program and the Teacher and School Leader Incentive program.

USED launches 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): On September 24, USED launched the 2026–2027 FAFSA, ahead of the Congressionally-mandated  October 1 deadline.  After previous delays of the FAFSA form under the Biden Administration, Congress passed the “FAFSA Deadline Act,” which requires that the FAFSA form be fully operational by October 1 each year. This year’s FAFSA includes changes aimed at simplifying the application process, such as an improved user interface and identity verification and enhanced data protection. The form was available in beta starting August 3, during which over 43,000 applications were initiated and 24,000 processed with 97% satisfaction reported, according to the Department. USED Secretary McMahon said the improved FAFSA and on-time release “ensures American students and families have access to critical resources as they begin or continue their postsecondary education journey.”

National Center for Education Statistics releases provisional data for Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): On September 25, NCES within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) released provisional data of the components collected during the fall collection period of the 2024–2025 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS is an annual, large-scale, web-based survey that collects institution-level data from postsecondary institutions. According to Inside Higher Education, “the IPEDS data released this week is the first of three batches expected to come out of the department’s annual survey of more than 5,500 higher education institutions that receive federal student aid; this batch includes statistics on 12-month enrollment and completion rates during the 2023–24 academic year and some institutional characteristics from the 2024–25 academic year. Information about cost of attendance and tuition is expected to come out in the winter.” This is the first update to the IPEDS under the Trump Administration and includes data submitted by colleges and universities prior to the Trump Administration taking office.

USED Secretary McMahon announces next Chair and new members of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB): On September 30, USED Secretary McMahon named Tennessee Republican Representative Mark White as Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). Secretary McMahon also announced the appointment of early literacy expert Kymyona Burk and elementary school principal Michael Sidebotham. Scott Marion, a current NAGB member, was also reappointed to a second term. NAGB is the policy board that oversees the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

HHS releases new funding for nutrition at Head Start centers: On September 23, HHS announced $61 million in supplemental nutrition funding to Head Start programs to “support nutrition services, promote healthy eating habits, and improve access to nutrient dense foods” for more than 100,000 children and families. In the release, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr noted, “When children have access to fresh, nutritious food, we don’t just feed them for a day — we set them on a path to lifelong health. By putting nutrition at the center of health, we are restoring trust in our public health system and delivering on our promise to Make America Healthy Again.” Of the supplemental funding, which will be released over the next twelve months, half will be allocated for materials, supplies, and equipment, including gardens or gardening supplies and commercial-grade appliances; 25% for food service upgrades, including modernization of kitchen facilities to prepare foods on-site and procurement of locally-sourced food; and 25% for nutrition education, including community events and training for staff.

HHS announces new states for TANF pilot program: On September 25, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS announced that five states – Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Virginia – would be chosen to participate in a new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pilot program. This new program, which was included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, is a six-year pilot that will replace the Work Participation Rate and instead measure state success using different metrics. According to HHS, states will “be held accountable for improving employment outcomes, supporting earnings growth, and reducing reliance on cash assistance, Medicaid, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.” In the release, ACF Acting Secretary Andrew Gradison said, “This pilot marks the beginning of a new era where states are empowered to test new strategies, achieve real outcomes, and build an evidence base for innovations that drive upward mobility.”

Congress

Federal government shutdown continues: On October 1, the federal government shut down when Congress failed to enact a continuing resolution (CR) to provide temporary funding, while further budget negotiations to determine FY2026 funding continue to take place. Any CR will require 60 votes to cut off debate in the Senate, meaning federal funding cannot be extended without the bipartisan support of both Republicans and Democrats. To date, both a clean CR -- which passed the House with Republican support (and the support of only one Democratic Representative) -- and a Senate Democratic CR -- which includes an extension of health care funds as part of a CR -- have not secured enough votes to reopen the federal government.

For a variety of reasons, public education as a sector tends to be less affected by shutdowns. Most notably, many federal education programs are “forward-funded,” meaning some funds for the new school year have already been disbursed. Title I, Title II (Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE), also receive “advance-funding,” meaning additional funding was distributed to states (and then from them to districts) on October 1, despite the shutdown. Other programs, like Pell Grants, receive a combination of discretionary and “mandatory” funding. Due to the extended availability of some discretionary funding and ongoing availability of “mandatory” funding, awards can continue to be disbursed, even during a shutdown. Additionally, the vast majority of K-12 education funding comes from state and local sources. However, at least one federal education program -- Impact Aid -- will be immediately affected or will soon be once available funding runs out. See above regarding contingency plans for HHS for more information on the impact of the shutdown on early childhood education programs, including Head Start.

Republican Committee Chairs send letters demanding information on college pricing: On October 1, the Chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees sent multiple letters, including to the College Board – the non-profit organization that administers the SAT and Advanced Placement tests – requesting information about “tuition pricing algorithms they have built and the college applicants’ data that feeds them.” The letters were signed by Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA), House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Chair Mike Lee (R-UT), and House Subcommittee on the Administrative State Regulatory Reform and Antitrust Committee Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI). In addition to the College Board, the letters were sent to various consulting firms, the computer company Oracle, and Ellucian demanding information about the use of pricing and financial aid algorithms in higher education. The letters seek information on whether colleges are using a “common pricing formula or algorithm” through third‑party vendors, details about their products or services, how the algorithms work, the data used to “train” them, and which institutions use them - calling these actions a potential violation of antitrust laws.

Senate:

Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy requests information and comments on costs and transparency in higher education: On September 30, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) from stakeholders on “improving transparency in higher education” and “lowering costs for students.” In the announcement, Chair Cassidy said, “Americans want the most value for their hard-earned money. They are used to shopping for products where prices are clearly labeled and information on quality is readily available, but when they shop for a college—one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives—it’s much harder to compare price and value across the available options.” The RFI includes four primary policy goals: price transparency, value transparency, clear and accurate financial aid offers, and informed borrowers, and lists twelve specific questions to address before the deadline to submit comments of October 24. The full RFI can be found here.

Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy and Senator Hawley seek answers on how companies are protecting children from potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI): Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) are seeking answers on how companies are protecting children from potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). Chair Cassidy and Senator Hawley note that their interest stems from “recent tragedies where multiple children took their own lives after being influenced by AI platforms.” Specifically, the Senators wrote, “The safety of AI tools, particularly those available to children and teenagers, is paramount. It is unacceptable that AI tools do not have robust policies in place to ensure that they do not support or encourage harm…That AI would have the capability to encourage, instruct, or convince a user—in one of the most recent cases a fourteen-year-old—to end his life is deeply troubling.” The senators are seeking information from OpenAI, Anthropic, Character.AI, and Alphabet. Relatedly, Chair Cassidy announced that the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on October 9, titled, “AI's Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families,” which will explore the effects of AI on American families and the workforce.

Senators Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin urge USED Secretary McMahon to reverse recent reprogramming of USED funds: On September 18, Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) wrote to USED Secretary McMahon to urge the Department to reverse the recent reprogramming of funding to provide more funding for the Administration’s priorities of civics education and charter schools, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). The Democratic Members expressed, “We write in strong opposition to the Department’s plans to unilaterally eliminate and significantly cut several programs…The Department is unilaterally overriding funding allocations that have long been included in bipartisan annual appropriations bills—funding decisions that collectively reflect bipartisan agreements and priorities of Congress and the states, communities and constituents we represent.”

As background, on September 10, USED announced that the following MSI programs will no longer receive approximately $350 million remaining in FY2025 funds: Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (Title III, Part A); Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions (Title III, Part A); Strengthening Asian American- and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (Title III, Part A); Strengthening Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (Title III, Part A); Minority Science and Engineering Improvement (Title III, Part E); Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Title V, Part A); and Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (Title V, Part B). Additionally, according to Politico’s reporting (subscription required), USED cut funding from two teacher preparation grant programs, including the Supporting Effective Educators Development program and the Teacher and School Leader Incentive program, as well as the Ready to Learn program, the Magnet Schools Assistance Program, the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program, and the Assistance for Arts Education Program. 

House:

House Democratic Members send letter to USED Secretary McMahon opposing changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: On September 16, fifty House Democratic Representatives wrote a letter to USED Secretary McMahon strongly opposed to the Trump Administration's proposed rule that would redefine which employers qualify under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The letter argues that the proposed rule , which follows the March 7 Executive Order on “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness,” would allow the Secretary of Education to revoke or deny an employer’s PSLF eligibility based on vague or political criteria, potentially discriminating against nonprofits or organizations serving marginalized communities. The letter urges the Department to withdraw the proposed rule and instead faithfully implement the PSLF as required by the “College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.” 

U.S. Courts

U.S. Supreme Court issues preliminary ruling allowing pocket rescission to move forward: On September 26, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) paused a lower court’s injunction, effectively allowing the Administration to withhold nearly $4 billion in foreign aid funding via a contested procedure known as a  “pocket rescission” that Congress will not act on before the end of the fiscal year. Although the decision does not represent a final decision on whether the Executive Branch can withhold Congressionally-authorized funding in this way, the decision may result in the Administration succeeding in refusing to spend additional FY2025 funds. Although the funding in this decision was not for education programs, enabling a “pocket recission” in this instance may set a precedent that affects education funding in the future. In response to the ruling, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) stated, “Congress can—and absolutely should—promptly reject President Trump and Russ Vought’s illegal effort to do an end run around the people’s elected representatives…Republicans should join Democrats to stand up for our power of the purse, rather than allow a president and an unelected bureaucrat who do not respect Congress or the Constitution to continue attacking our power to fight for the people back home that we represent.”

First Circuit Court of Appeals allows USED’s Office for Civil Rights Reduction in Force (RIF) to proceed: On September 29, the First Circuit Court of Appeals allowed USED to move forward with its reduction in force (RIF) of more than half of the staff of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) while a lawsuit challenging the terminations proceeds to a final resolution. The appellate court ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2025 decision to allow the overall USED RIF to move forward applied equally to this separate lawsuit focused just on OCR. The plaintiffs may still ultimately win the case, especially if they can prove that such the RIF makes it impossible for OCR to fulfill its Congressionally-mandated duties, but in the meantime, 7 of 12 OCR regional offices will be closed and USED’s capacity to address civil rights complaints throughout the country could be significantly diminished.

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On October 8 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.
• On October 9 at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing titled, “AI's Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families.” Witnesses include: Dr. Russ B. Altman, Kenneth Fong Professor and Professor of Bioengineering, of Genetics, of Medicine, of Biomedical Data Science, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI ; John Bailey, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI); Harriet Pearson, Managing Principal at Axia Advisory; Dr. Juliet Schor, Professor at Boston College; and Carlos Aramyao, President of UNITE HERE Local 26. The hearing will be held in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On October 8 at 1:00 p.m., the Hunt Institute will host a webinar titled, “Where Policy Meets Practice: Moving Towards Literacy Implementation.” The webinar will feature leading experts to discuss how states, districts, and educator preparation programs can bridge the gap between research and practice. Panelists will discuss how teacher preparation and professional development can better integrate the science of reading, identify policy levers that can drive systemic change, and explore how these shifts can translate into stronger reading outcomes for students. More information and registration are here.
• On October 9 at 12:30 p.m., the Urban Institute will host a webinar titled, “Lessons on Collecting Data and Driving Change to Support Student Parent Success.” The webinar will explore the Urban Institute’s Data-to-Action Campaign for Parenting Students, which has generated new insights into how to identify parenting students and advance their success. Participants will hear from: Theresa Anderson, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute; Nathan Sick, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute; Johanna Aleman, Basic Needs Coordinator at San Diego Mesa College; Brittany Jackson Kairis, Vice Chancellor for Strategy and Planning at the City Colleges of Chicago; Kevin Relf, Student at Lane Community College; Gail Schull, Vice President of Student Affairs at Klamath Community College; Katonja Webb Walker, President of Kennedy-King College; and Tina Cheuk, Associate Professor of Education at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. More information and registration are here.
• On October 10 at 3:00 p.m., the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) will host a webinar titled, “How States Can Inspire Student Civic Engagement.” Moderated by NASBE CEO Paolo DeMaria, panelists will discuss what research reveals about civic engagement, the role of schools and communities in motivating young people, and how state leaders can support policies and practices to shape the next generation of informed citizens. Other speakers include: Shawn Healy of iCivics; Fernande Raine from the History Co:Lab; Bernice Butler, District of Columbia State Board of Education Executive Director; and Ian House, student adviser for the North Carolina State Board of Education. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Congress & Administration):

• On September 29, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a new report titled, “Agency Funding and Outreach to Historically Black, Tribal, and Minority-Serving Colleges and Universities,” which examined federal efforts to support research and development at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs during fiscal years 2018–2022. According to the report, HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs have long faced barriers to securing federal research funding. The “CHIPS and Science Act,” which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, required GAO to examine federal efforts to increase research capacity and competitiveness at these schools. The report examined participation in federally-funded research in 2018–2022, specific competitive federal research funding programs and initiatives that were targeted to these schools, and outreach by key federal agencies to help increase participation in federally-funded research. GAO identified 75 federal programs that targeted funding to help these institutions conduct research and build their research capacity. The report also found that five federal agencies - the Department of Transportation, NASA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation - conducted outreach to increase HBCU, TCU, and MSI participation in federally-funded research. The report noted that, as of May 15, 2025, awards in about half of these programs were ongoing, while changes in “administration and agency priorities” led to the termination of some awards under at least ten programs, and awards under some other programs were paused for review.
• On September 30, the GAO issued a new report titled, “Sexual Harassment: Actions Needed to Ensure Consistent Agency Policies for Research Institutions.” The CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, included a requirement for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation to combat sexual harassment at federally-funded research institutions and increase consistency in agency policies. The law required GAO to assess federal efforts to implement policies that address sexual harassment at research institutions. The report found that OSTP “did not complete actions to address sexual harassment at federally-funded research institutions” within the timeframe required by the law. GAO provided two recommendations to strengthen oversight and coordination.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 5655

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require mandatory certification for certain students and reduce stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

H.R. 5658

A bill to establish universal child care and early learning programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)

H.R. 5668

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to make physical improvements at the elementary schools and secondary schools served by such agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)

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. 5676

A bill to prohibit any Executive agency from terminating employees during any period in which there is a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor? Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL)

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)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 2939

A bill to establish universal child care and early learning programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

S. 2944

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require mandatory certification for certain students and reduce stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

S. 2937

A bill to establish legal standards for advanced artificial intelligence products.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S. 2938

A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish the Advanced Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)

S. 2974

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require taxpayers claiming the child and earned income tax credits, and their qualifying children, to have a valid social security number for employment purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)

S.Res. 426

A resolution designating the week of October 5, 2025, through October 11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States.
Sponsor: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)