The first session of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee was held this week. The second and final session of negotiations will be held May 18-22 and will include a vote on the proposed regulations. More details are here. A 151-page initial draft of the Department of Education’s proposed regulations is here. A 9-page summary from the Department is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here, here, and here. Coverage from the Chronicle of Higher Education is here and here. New America held an event last week, “Accreditation 101: A Fireside Chat on How Colleges Are Measured”. It contains discussion of the negotiated rulemaking and is available here.
Department of Education Releases Proposed Rule on Accountability
Today, the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a postsecondary education accountability framework. The new accountability measures stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and negotiators narrowly reached consensus on the package of proposed regulations in January. The proposed rule will officially publish to the Federal Register on Monday, and the NPRM will be open for a 30-day public comment period, with comments due no later than May 20. A press release is here and the NPRM is here.
On Thursday, May 14 at 9:15am Eastern, AEI will host an in-person and online event titled, “Can Accountability Strengthen Higher Education’s Economic Promise?” Participants include Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent and Senior Adviser, Office of the Under Secretary, Jason Delisle, as well as former Biden Administration Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. More details, including a registration link, are available here.
ASAHP and APWA Submit Testimony to Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor-HHS Subcommittee
ASAHP joined the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member, in a submitting written outside witness testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, urging the Departments of Education and Labor to report on the impacts of federal student loan limits on programs not classified as “professional.” APWA has also submitted suggested report language to Congress.
HPNEC Coalition Releases Statement on the President's Budget Request for FY 27
Today the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, issued a statement expressing concern with proposed cuts to critical Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs included in the fiscal year (FY) 2027 President’s Budget Request.
The statement notes that, “The President’s FY 2027 budget released on April 3, 2026, once again recommends a massive $1 billion proposed cut to health workforce programs under the proposed Administration for a Healthy America. Particularly concerning is the proposed elimination of 14 existing Title VII health professions and VIII nursing workforce development programs currently administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). If enacted, these cuts would limit support for essential investments in programs that play an irreplaceable role in shaping, educating, and bolstering the health workforce at all stages of the continuum. As communities face shortages of health professionals, these devastating cuts would result in a significant and detrimental impact on the health of communities across the country and limit access to care for patients nationwide.”
HPNEC urges Congress to reject any funding cuts to the HRSA Title VII and VIII programs proposed in the President’s FY 27 budget request and to bolster support for programs that address health workforce shortages in critical areas of need and ensure access to care across the nation.
The statement is available here.
Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's FY 27 Budget Request for HHS
On Tuesday, April 21 at 2:30pm Eastern, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor-HHS will hold a hearing on the President’s FY 27 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify. The hearing may be viewed here.
Sec. Kennedy will testify at seven hearings over the course of a week, including the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommitee on Labor-HHS on April 16 here, the House Ways & Means Committee on April 16 here, and the House Education and Workforce on April 17 here.
U.S. Department of Education Proposed Accreditation Overhaul
The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulations Monday aimed at reshaping the college accreditation system and addressing college affordability. The proposals reflect priorities set by an executive order by President Trump and would simplify the process for new accreditors through the U.S Department of Education, institutions to switch accreditors, and accreditation requirements to not include diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Under the draft rules, colleges must be accredited by a federally recognized agency for students to remain eligible for federal financial aid. The proposal will also shorten the timelines for new accrediting agencies and weaken bureaucratic demands on member colleges. Accreditors would face new responsibilities, such as measures to ensure compliance with state and federal law, with specific emphasis toward intellectual diversity and ideological neutrality under the First Amendment. Such measures may conflict with the Higher Education Act, which limits the Department's authority over private accrediting organizations.
The new proposals are expected to draw opposition from institutions and accreditors across the political spectrum. One proposal setting requirements for colleges to presume general-education credit transferability may draw special criticism for weakening institutional autonomy. The negotiated rulemaking Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Committee (AIM) will meet to discuss the draft regulations for next week on April 13-17 and May 18–22. A summary the draft regulations can be found here.
Read more on this on Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed.
President's FY 27 Budget Request Released
Today, the White House released the President’s FY 2027 budget request, outlining priorities for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. The proposal calls for a $73 billion (10%) reduction in domestic discretionary spending, while significantly increasing defense funding.
Under the request, defense spending would rise by 42% to roughly $1.5 trillion, including a roughly $250 billion increase to Department of Defense appropriations over the FY 26 enacted level paired with $350 billion expected to be advanced through a forthcoming reconciliation package from congressional Republicans.
The President’s budget proposal calls for a $15.8 billion (12.5 percent) cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a 4 percent cut to the Department of Education (ED), and a 26 percent cut to the Department of Labor (DOL).
The President’s budget proposal calls for significant cuts to health workforce programs. A funding chart of HRSA Title VII and VIII health workforce programs comparing the President’s FY 27 budget request to the FY 26 enacted level was composed by the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) and is available here.
ASAHP Submits Comments to the Dept of Ed on Higher Education Student Loan Caps
In response to the Department of Education’s (ED) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which would reduce student loan opportunities for allied health professions education as well as nursing and public health programs, the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) submitted comments to ED urging the Department to classify allied health programs as qualifying professional degree programs eligible for the higher student loan cap.
Department of Education Issues Interpretive Rule on Accreditation
Health Care Groups Form Coalition to Fight Loan Caps
Inside Higher Ed covered the work of a newly formed coalition, of which ASAHP is a member, which is spearheading advocacy in response to proposed Department of Education rulemaking on Higher Education Act provisions stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including the new student loan caps which would exclude most allied health graduate and doctoral programs from higher student loan caps.
The article by Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.
House Education & Workforce Committee Hearing on "Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts"
The House Education and Workforce Committee held a Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing titled “Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts,” to examine the rising costs of higher education and potential strategies to increase access for working families.
ACE to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid
On Tuesday, February 10, at 3pm Eastern, the American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and interested parties titled, “Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid”. Jessica Blake of Inside Higher Ed will moderate a panel featuring Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and others.
More details are here. ACE put out a two-page document here with background and talking points on the issue.
House Passes and President Trump Signs FY 26 Labor-HHS Bill Package, Ending Partial Government Shutdown
This afternoon, the House, in a 217-214 vote, passed the five-bill spending package funding the FY 26 Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State bills through the remainder of the current fiscal year, along with a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the Homeland Security bill through February 13. 21 Democrats joined most Republicans in support, while 21 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition. Prior to final passage, the House voted 217-215 to adopt the rule to consider the legislation, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) joining all Democrats in opposition. The Senate passed the package on Friday, and President Trump signed this package this afternoon, ending the partial government shutdown which began at midnight on Friday.
A statement from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, is here.
Senate Passes Funding Package Including the Labor-HHS Bill
On Friday evening, in a bipartisan 71-29 vote, and after Senators and the White House forged a compromise deal yesterday, the Senate passed a FY 26 funding package comprised of the Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State appropriations bills. Those bills would be funded through September, the remainder of the fiscal year.
The Senate also passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13, allowing more time for Congress and the White House to negotiate that bill.
The five-bill funding package and Homeland Security CR now need to be passed in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he hopes to bring up the bills under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process which requires a two-thirds vote in the House. A vote is expected as early as Monday. The likelihood of quick House passage remains uncertain.
The current CR for the six FY 26 bills, including the Labor-HHS bill, expired at midnight on Friday, triggering a partial government shutdown lasting until the House passes the funding package and President Trump signs the bills.
Department of Education Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Comment Period on Higher Education Loan Caps
Yesterday the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing changes to the Higher Education Act (HEA) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, following the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) negotiated rulemaking committee reaching consensus on the package of proposed regulations in November.
The proposed regulation sets new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. Graduate students would be limited to $20,500 in student loans per year (an up to $100,000 aggregate cap), while professional students would be limited to $50,000 in federal student loans per year (an up to $200,000 lifetime cap). The regulation narrows the programs that qualify as professional degrees, meaning students pursuing an array of advanced degrees in high-demand professions—such as allied health, nursing, and public health—would not be able to borrow as much as those in unaffected fields. The regulations would also eliminate the Grad PLUS program and multiple loan repayment options, limit Parent PLUS, and introduces streamlined repayment options for borrowers.
Since this issue arose, ASAHP has joined other organizations in outreach to the Department of Education (here, here, and here), urging that health professions programs qualify for the professional degree caps and expressing concern that a new, narrow definition of what constitutes a professional degree will deepen the health workforce shortage by creating uncertainty and limiting access to vital support for students entering critical health fields.
Public comment on the proposed regulations is now open through March 2. The Department of Education press release is here. The NPRM is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
House Passes FY 26 House Labor-HHS Bill, Senate Consideration Next Week
Yesterday, the House passed a spending package, closing out its work on FY 26 appropriations. After passing the Homeland Security bill, the House passed a three-bill “minibus” package including the Labor-HHS, Defense, and Transportation-HUD bills in a bipartisan 341-88 vote. The Senate is expected to take up its remaining bills, including the House pass Labor-HHS bill, in a six-bill minibus package to expedite their passage in advance of the January 30 funding deadline. Once passed by the Senate, these appropriations are expected to be signed by the President.
The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) has produced a chart on Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII and VIII Health Workforce Programs funding, which may be accessed here.
Congressional Appropriators Release Remaining FY 26 Bipartisan Funding bills, Including Labor-HHS Bill
House and Senate Appropriators released the texts of four bipartisan FY 26 appropriations bills this morning -- Defense, Homeland Security, Transportation-HUD, and Labor-HHS. These are the last of the twelve appropriations bills needed to move forward to meet appropriators’ overall goals of enacting every appropriations bill before the Continuing Resolution expires on January 30th. The House is expected to take up these bills as soon as Thursday, while the Senate will address these bills, along with two other outstanding bills, when it returns from recess next week.
ACE Issues Talking Points on Graduate and Professional Student Loan Limits
The American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, has released talking points on graduate and professional student loan limits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).
ASAHP is deeply concerned ED’s recent narrowing of programs that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees excludes health professions education. In November, ED launched the first phase of its regulatory process for the student financial aid provisions of the OBBBA, restricting the professions that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees. Unfortunately, ED's proposal leaves out essential health professions, including allied health, nursing, and public health, from the category of ‘professional’ degrees—ignoring decades of precedent affirming these fields as professional programs. Several bills on the issue have been introduced in Congress, and the Department of Education will be issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which will have a public comment period before a final rule is issued.
The talking points are available here.
Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking on Accreditation
This week the Department of Education announced its intent to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee. The committee will address the following topics: deregulation, student outcomes, merit, and integrity. The deadline to submit nominations for negotiators is February 26. The committee will convene for two five-day sessions in April and May. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
Rep. Lawler Introduces the Professional Student Degree Act
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act in the House yesterday. The legislation defines what constitutes a professional degree program, and adds to a list of examples of such programs, including “nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.” ASAHP supports the Professional Student Degree Act.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.
A press release from Rep. Lawler is available here. The bill text is available here.