CONGRESS

The U.S. Senate failed to invoke cloture on the six-bill fiscal year (FY) 2026 minibus appropriations package passed by the House last week. This package includes FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations. Media reports indicate that negotiations are continuing over passing a package with five of the bills (including LHHS appropriations) and a separate two-week continuing resolution for U.S. Department of Homeland Security appropriations.

By a 45 to 47 vote, S.3627, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, failed to pass in the Senate.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced upcoming negotiated rulemaking sessions to develop proposed regulatory changes to accreditation requirements impacting institutions of higher education that participate in Federal student aid programs. Stakeholders may submit nominations for negotiators by February 26, 2026.

ED issued proposed rules for public comment regarding Federal student loan repayment and borrowing under the graduate and Parent PLUS Federal student loan programs. These proposed regulations stem from the negotiated rulemaking sessions conducted by the Reimaging and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee last year. The public may comment on these regulations through March 2, 2026.

ED and the U.S. Department of Labor released guidance to support States in updating their Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Plans.

AmeriCorps released its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for public input.

COURTS

ED submitted a request to a Federal court to extend the deadline for evaluating student applications for loan forgiveness based on fraud claims.

A Federal district court judge extended a temporary order blocking the Administration from freezing funds under the Child Care Development Block Grant, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Social Services Block Grant programs for five States.

EVENTS

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

February 3: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work.”

February 4: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts.”