CONGRESS

The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on H.R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026. The bill was favorably reported by the Committee by a vote of 19 to 14.

The Senate passed a budget resolution to unlock a second reconciliation bill, which notably does not involve education matters. The House is expected to consider the Senate-passed budget resolution next week.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a list of the ten States where it reported the highest levels of prevented fraud in Federal student aid programs.

ED released a notice of proposed rulemaking containing draft regulations to establish a new postsecondary accountability framework. The proposal follows Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee negotiated rulemaking sessions held in December 2025 and January 2026.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced she was leaving her position as Secretary of Labor. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is now Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Media outlets suggested that ED would begin collecting on defaulted student loans this July.

According to Inside Higher Ed, ED clarified that the lifetime cap of $257,500 for Grad PLUS loans is expected to apply to borrowers who pause their enrollment before completing their degree, enroll part-time or in programs that take longer than 3 years to complete (such as dual-degree programs) or previously borrowed more than $257,500 through Grad PLUS and later seek additional Federal aid for a subsequent degree.

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler sent an email notifying State education chiefs that formula funds will be released from ED through the existing G5 system and not DOL’s grant management system.

EVENTS

April 28: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Leveling Down: How Equity Policies Undermine Excellence and Harm Students.”

April 28: Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing titled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Education.”

April 29: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education.”