CONGRESS

The Federal government remains in a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations into fiscal year 2026.

ADMINISTRATION

Following the Administration’s initiation of a reduction-in-force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) last week, ED has informed Congress that the layoffs affected 64 staff from the Office of Postsecondary Education, 137 from the Office for Civil Rights, 4 from the Office of the Secretary, 7 from the Office of Communications and Outreach, 132 from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and 121 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

The Trump Administration extended the invitation to sign onto the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to all colleges and universities.

COURTS

A district court judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt further implementation of RIFs during or because of the shutdown.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans on providing clients with a summary of the following event next week:

October 21: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Executive Session to consider several nominations and bills, including S. 1070, the National STEM Week Act.