Advocacy

House Education Committee Advances Budget Reconciliation Bill

Today, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a mark up of their portion of the budget reconciliation bill. Termed the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, the bill advanced out of the House Education and Workforce committee and now goes to the House Budget Committee before being packaged with other committee’s bills and then going to the House floor. The bill cuts about $350 billion over 10 years, after the budget resolution passed by both chambers included reconciliation instructions for the committee to find savings of at least $330 billion.

The bill makes changes to student loan programs and student loan repayment plans as well as Pell grants. It caps the total amount of federal student aid a student can receive annually at the “median cost of college,” defined as the median cost of attendance for students enrolled in the same program of study nationally and calculated by the Secretary using data from the previous award year. It terminates the authority to make Grad PLUS loans and subsidized loans for undergraduate students.

The bill expands eligibility for Pell Grants to students enrolled in short-term, high-quality, workforce aligned programs that meet certain requirements.

The bill creates skin-in-the-game accountability for colleges and universities by amending the terms of the Direct Loan program participation agreement to require institutions to reimburse the Secretary for a percentage of the non-repayment balance associated with loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2027.

The bill establishes a “PROMISE” grants program to provide performance-based grants to institutions.

The bill repeals regulations such as the 90/10 rule, gainful employment, and regulations pertaining to borrower defense to repayment and closed school discharges.

The House hopes for their reconciliation bill to go to the House floor the week of May 19, with the package being signed into law before the Memorial Day recess.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said July 4th is the target date for the budget reconciliation bill’s passage in both chambers. The budget reconciliation bill is to include components from various congressional committees, including an extension of the 2017 tax cuts.

The bill text is here, a section-by section summary is here, a press release including an opening statement from Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is here, a press release from the commitee’s Republican majority is here, a press release including an opening statement from Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here, letters of opposition and Democratic amendments are here, a Democratic summary of the bill is here, the Congressional Budget Office’s preliminary cost estimate is here. Video of the mark up is here.

President Trump Issues Executive Orders on Accreditation and Other Higher Ed Issues

On Wednesday, President Trump issued seven Executive Orders (EOs) pertaining to education and workforce issues. The Executive Orders are: Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies, Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy, and Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth. The EO on accreditation states Secretary of Education Linda McMahon shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, hold accreditors accountable by suspending or terminating an their federal recognition for poor performance or if they violate federal civil rights law. The EO also states that the Secretary should resume recognizing new accreditors to increase competition and accountability.

Statements from Education Secretary Linda McMahon are here and from House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) are here. The Executive Order on accreditation is here and a White House fact sheet is here. All Executive Orders may be accessed here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here and here.

Chronicle of Higher Education Webinar Series on President Trump and Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education is holding a webinar series titled, “Trump and Higher Ed: Understanding the Latest.” A Chroncile writer and editor will examine the latest developments in higher education policy, covering executive orders and legal challenges. A session will be held on April 24 at 1pm Eastern and on May 8 at 1pm Eastern.

More details, inlcuding a registration form, may be accessed here.

ASAHP Joins Letter to Congressional Appropriators on FY 26 CDC Funding

ASAHP was one of 219 members of the CDC Coalition and other state, national and academic organizations which sent a letter to congressional appropriators urging them to include at least $11.581 billion for the CDC’s programs in the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill and to reject any efforts to dismantle the agency or eliminate any of its essential public health programs.

The letter may be accessed here.

Department of Education to Hold Title IV Negotiated Rulemaking 

On Thursday, the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education announced its intention to begin negotiated rulemaking on various financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA). ED is seeking public feedback on ways to streamline higher education regulations and federal assistance programs, and specifically is seeking ideas to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Repayment Plan, and the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan. ED will host two public hearings, an in-person meeting on April 29 and a virtual hearing on May 1. The Department will also accept written comments submitted no later than May 5. More details are here and the federal register posting is here. 

 Congressional Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to express their strong opposition to limiting eligibility for the PSLF program

President Trump Signs Executive Order on Dismantling the Department of Education

On Thursday, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) which states, “the Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

The EO also states, “the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy, including the requirement that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”

Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA)  has already indicated he will introduce a bill to eliminate the Department, but it will require 60 votes for approval in the Senate and its 47 Democratic Senators are in near lock step opposing such a measure.

Last week the Department of Education initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Departments workforce. The Department’s workforce went from 4,133 workers as of Trump’s inauguration to roughly 2,183 workers.

The Executive Order may be accessed here and a White House fact sheet is here.

Congress Passes FY 25 Government Funding Continuing Resolution

Today the Senate passed the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through September 30, the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year, by a vote of 54-46. Two members of the Democratic caucus voted for the bill, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who is retiring at the end of her current term, and Sen. Angus King (I-ME). The only Republican to vote against the bill was Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). 

Prior to the final vote on the CR, the Senate needed 60 votes to pass the procedural vote to set up final passage. That cloture vote was 62-38, with ten members of the Democratic caucus voting to advance the bill, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Sen. Angus King (I-ME). 52 Republicans voted for the bill, all but Sen. Paul. 

The bill, which was backed by President Trump, is expected to be signed by the President tonight, averting a shutdown which would otherwise begin at midnight. 

The CR largely maintains FY 24 funding levels, though it decreases non-defense spending by $13 billion (a 1.7% cut), while increasing defense spending by $6 billion (a 0.7% increase). Republicans are pursuing additional defense funding increases in its Republican only budget reconciliation bill. 

The CR does not include earmarks, and cuts funding for some accounts that had been allocated to earmarks in FY 24. House Republican Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “most members would like to go back to a system, and would assume we will in ’26, where they [earmarks] would be a normal part of the process.”

On Tuesday, the House passed the CR in a 217-213 vote, with all House Republicans voting in favor except for Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and all House Democrats voting against it except for Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME). After passing the CR, the House went on recess. The House and Senate are now both in recess, and return on Monday, March 24.

Early in the week, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced a short-term CR that would keep the government funded through April 11, which would allow Congress more time to continue negotiations to complete twelve bipartisan FY 25 funding bills. However, Republicans rejected the plan, and Democrats never fully unified around it. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Wednesday that the Republican-backed CR through September 30 did not have the votes to pass, before on Thursday deciding to support it. Schumer saw the alternative, a shutdown with no clear path to attain concessions favorable to Democrats, as the worse option.

This week’s passage of the largely Republican-backed and Trump endorsed bill has frustrated and divided Congressional Democrats. Just yesterday, House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and House leadership issued a joint statement which said, “the far-right Republican funding bill will unleash havoc on everyday Americans, giving Donald Trump and Elon Musk even more power to continue dismantling the federal government. House Democrats will not be complicit.” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sided with House Speaker Jeffries and with the House and Senate Democratic appropriations leadership. 

Schumer outlined his reasoning for breaking with House Democratic leadership and many of his Senate Democratic colleagues in a New York Times opinion piece and floor speech yesterday, stating “for sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option. It is not a clean CR. It is deeply partisan. It doesn’t address far too many of this country’s needs. But I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”

Sen. Murray’s floor remarks outlined problems with the relatively slim full-year CR bill, including concern that the CR lacks the prescriptive programmatic details, funding tables, and report language included in typical appropriations bills. 

Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force 

This week the Department of Education initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Departments workforce. The Department’s workforce has gone from 4,133 workers as of Trump’s inauguration to roughly 2,183 workers. Impacted workers will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21.More details may be accessed here. OMB guidance on agency RIF and reorganizational plans is here. 

Department of Education Investigations of Institutions of Higher Education

Today, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights opened investigations into 45 universities for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. OCR is also investigating six schools for alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation. 

On Monday, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 institutions under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, warning of enforcement actions.

More details are here and here. 


HPNEC Issues Statement Urging Maximum Funding for FY 25 HRSA Title VII and VIII Programs

On Tuesday, the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, issued a statement urging Congress to provide maximum funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for fiscal year (FY) 2025 and ensure that each of these programs receives no less than its FY 2024 funding level. As Congress considers legislation to fund the government past the current March 14 deadline, the statement also acknowledges that avoiding funding lapses are critical to support the health professionals and patients who benefit from these vital programs.

The statement may be accessed here.

FASHP Letter Urges Budget Reconciliation Legislation does not negatively impact students and student loan borrowers

On Friday, ASAHP and other member organizations of the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) sent a letter to Congress urging that any forthcoming budget reconciliation legislation does not negatively impact students and student loan borrowers, which would have substantial ramifications on access to higher education across the country. This includes the elimination of student loan programs for graduate study as well as longstanding tax deductions, which provide financial assistance to students and borrowers. Established in 1968, FASHP comprises 19 associations representing a health professions education community.

The letter may be accessed here.

ASAHP Joins Letter to the Department of Education Regarding February 14 Dear Colleague Letter

ASAHP was one of 68 national organizations which signed on to an American Council on Education letter requesting that the Department rescind its February 14 Dear Colleague letter and promulgate new guidance, as well as work with stakeholders to ensure that institutions have a clear understanding of their legal obligations in this area.

On Friday, February 14, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague letter vastly expanding the ruling in the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that prohibited race as a factor in students’ admissions, by barring any DEI related activities on campus no later than February 28.

The coalition letter may be accessed here.

Department of Education February 14 Dear Collegue Letter

On Friday, February 14, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague letter vastly expanding the ruling in the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that prohibited race as a factor in students’ admissions, by barring any DEI related activities on campus no later than February 28. This Dear Colleague will likely face litigation.

ASAHP Joins Letter on NIH Indirect Costs

ASAHP joined the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) in a letter underscoring the vital role of sustained funding for Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs in supporting research activities funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

On Feb. 7, the NIH director’s office issued supplementary guidance that award recipients are subject to a 15 percent indirect cost rate. 

The FASAHP letter may be accessed here.

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon

Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to consider Linda McMahon’s nomination as Secretary of Education. The discussion focused on the future of the Department of Education, with Republican senators advocating for downsizing or restructuring to shift control to state and local governments, while Democrats raised concerns about the impact on federal funding and student protections.

When asked by Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA), if she agreed that since the Department of Education was created by Congress, it would need an act of Congress to be abolished, McMahon responded, “Certainly, President Trump understands that we'll be working with Congress. We'd like to do this right. We'd like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with and our Congress could get on board with that would have a better functioning Department of Education, but certainly does require congressional action.” McMahon also added, “it is set up by the United States Congress and we work with Congress. It clearly cannot be shut down without it.”

While the day prior President Trump called the Department of Education a “con job” and said he’d “like it to be closed immediately”, McMahon stated that the Administration’s goal was not to defund education programs but to improve efficiency and flexibility in federal funding. 

McMahon expressed support for continuing and expanding Pell Grants, ensuring states maintain current funding levels, and honoring PSLF commitments. There was bipartisan support for career and technical education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs, as well as discussions from the Republican side on regulatory flexibility for higher education.

Other topics discussed include anti-Semitism on college campuses, Office of Civil Rights, teacher pay, Title I, IDEA, ESSA Implementation, school choice, Title IX, DEI and federal grants, teacher shortage, school sports, foreign influence on colleges/universities, and collective bargaining.

The Senate HELP Committee will hold a vote on Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon on Thursday, February 20. The vote will be livestreamed here. Our memo on yesterday’s hearing may be accessed here.