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 […]

CONGRESS The Federal government remains in a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations into fiscal year 2026. The Senate voted 51–47 to approve an en bloc amendment confirming more than 100 Trump Administration nominees. Among those confirmed were Kirsten Baesler as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education; Kimberly […]

CONGRESS The Federal government officially entered a period of a lapse in appropriations, often referred to as a government shutdown, after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the Federal government into fiscal year 2026. The Senate passed S.Res.412, which authorized the en bloc consideration of several Trump Administration nominees, including U.S. Department […]

ADMINISTRATION POLITICO reported that the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo instructing Federal agencies to identify programs, projects and activities that will lose discretionary funding on October 1 if Congress does not reach a fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding agreement and to consider reduction-in-force plans for staff working in these impacted areas. President […]

CONGRESS The House Appropriations Full Committee passed its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill by a 35 to 28 vote. The Committee summary can be found here. The bill text can be found here. The Committee report can be found here. The House Appropriations Committee passed its […]

CONGRESS The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies passed its fiscal year 2026 bill on an 11 to 7 vote. The Committee summary can be found here. The bill text can be found here. ADMINISTRATION The Trump Administration released the first Unified Regulatory Agenda of its current term, […]

ADMINISTRATION U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to Congress, affirming that the U.S. Department of Education remains on track to release the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by October 1. The Office of Management and Budget announced a cancellation of foreign aid funding, which they are citing as […]

ADMINISTRATION The U.S. Department of Education (ED) rescinded guidance pertaining to public schools’ obligations to ensure that English Learner students can “meaningfully participate in their educational programs and services.” ED updated the agency’s interpretation on using Federal Work Study (FWS) funds for certain voter registration and related activities, largely stating that such use is impermissible. […]

CONGRESS The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a resource titled “What is a ‘Pocket Rescission’ and is It Legal?” ADMINISTRATION President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” The U.S. Department of Labor released a workforce plan titled “America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age.” COURTS A […]

CONGRESS The U.S. Senate joined the U.S. House in recessing until after Labor Day. The U.S. Senate confirmed Nicolas Kent by a 50 to 45 vote to be the Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) issued a report outlining policies on child […]