Below is RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

January 22, 2025

CONGRESS

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) announced the membership for Senate Appropriations subcommittees in the 119^th Congress. The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee retains the same leadership from last Congress, with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) serving as Chair and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) serving as Ranking Member.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen Fraud Risk Management.”

GAO published a report titled “K-12 Education: Education’s Priorities in Discretionary Grantmaking.”

GAO published a report titled “Higher Education: College Student Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care.”

ADMINISTRATION
On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo to Federal agencies ordering a freeze on activities related to certain Federal programs. This memo has since been stayed by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan and rescinded by OMB.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.”

President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.”

President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.”

President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”

The Institute of Education Sciences published results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics assessments for grades 4 and 8. The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) related statement can be found here.

ED announced that it has dismissed 11 complaints related to book bans; dismissed 6 additional pending allegations of book banning; rescinded all related Department guidance; and will no longer employ a “book ban coordinator.”

ED announced its recognition and celebration of National School Choice Week.

ED launched an investigation into Denver Public Schools regarding its conversion of a restroom to an all-gender restroom.

COURTS

The Supreme Court announced it will take on a court case related to an Oklahoma religious charter school.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

10 Days In: What Actions Has Trump Taken? [Inside Higher Ed]

How 4 of Trump’s policy actions could impact higher education in 2025 [Higher Ed Dive]

The Conservative Threat to Race-Based Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

This week in 5 numbers: The coming decline of high school graduate numbers [Higher Ed Dive]

Florida Board Approves Extensive Gen Ed Overhaul [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump administration reverses course on federal funding freeze [Higher Ed Dive]

Insiders Reflect on the Scramble to Fix the FAFSA [Inside Higher Ed]

A Sweeping Effort to Reshape Ohio’s Colleges Has Stalled for Years. Now It’s Back, and Even Broader. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Governor Leaves Indiana’s Predominantly Black University Out of Budget [Inside Higher Ed]

Higher Ed Alarmed by Trump’s Plan to Freeze Federal Grants [Inside Higher Ed]

5 higher education lawsuits to watch in 2025 [Higher Ed Dive]

Hate Endowment Taxes? Reform the University. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

How Trump’s DEI orders may bring extra scrutiny to D.C.-area colleges [The Washington Post]

Undergraduate certificate programs soar in popularity amid changes to labor market [The Hill]

Critics Denounce Harvard’s Decision to Adopt Controversial Definition of Antisemitism [Inside Higher Ed]

National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders [NPR]

Polarization is battering campuses. Here is how college leaders are fighting back [Higher Ed Dive]

What Some Colleges Say They’ll Do if Immigration Authorities Come to Campus [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

As schools brace for Trump’s immigration raids, Dems split over how to respond [POLITICO]

Trump’s anti-DEI push puts top colleges in the crosshairs [The Hill]

Universities Brace for Funding Cuts as Congress Considers Reconciliation [Inside Higher Ed]

Supreme Court to decide whether states can allow religious public schools [The Washington Post]

Head Start programs under interim management struggle with staff and safety issues [K-12 Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on Nomination for HHS Secretary

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Nomination Hearing of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services

House Committee on Education and Workforce

February 5: Full Committee Hearing on “The State of American Education”

Witnesses to be announced.

2175 Rayburn and via webcast.

10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Majority Leader

Press Release: Leader Schumer Statement On Trump Administration Freeze Of Federal Aid

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Schumer Statement After Senate Democrats Successfully Force Trump To Back Off Disastrous OMB Freeze Memo

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On President Trump’s Malicious Federal Aid Freeze Creating Chaos For Firefighters, Schools, Veterans, Farmers, Seniors, And American Families

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Senator Murray Calls on Trump to Rescind Executive Orders Still Blocking Billions for Communities Across America

Press Release: Senator Collins’ Statement on OMB Rescinding Memo to Freeze Federal Funding

Press Release: Collins, Murray Announce Appropriations Subcommittees Leadership and Rosters for the 119th Congress

Press Release: Senator Murray Blasts Trump Admin for Illegally Blocking Funding for Communities, Comments on Latest OMB Update & Continued Chaos Nationwide

Press Release: Senator Murray Comments on Illegal Trump Administration Directives to Withhold Vast Swaths of Congressionally-Approved Federal Funding

Press Release: Vice Chair Murray, Ranking Member DeLauro Raise Alarm on New OMB Memoranda, Trump Administration’s Efforts to Defy Federal Law, Constitution to Withhold Approved Federal Funding

Press Release: FACT SHEET: Trump’s Illegal and Unconstitutional Scheme to Withhold Funding Headed to Communities Across America

House Majority Leader

Press Release: Scalise Discusses Republican Plans for Reconciliation

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Dear Colleague on Illegal Republican Funding Freeze

House Committee on Education and Workforce

Press Release: ICYMI: Head Start Puts Children at Risk

House Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: DeLauro: Trump’s Unlawful Freeze is Not Over

Press Release: Background on Unlawful Impoundment in President Trump’s Executive Orders

Press Release: Ranking Member DeLauro, Vice Chair Murray Raise Alarm on New OMB Memoranda, Trump Administration’s Efforts to Defy Federal Law, Constitution to Withhold Approved Federal Funding

Press Release: DeLauro Applauds Temporary Block of Trump’s Unlawful Funding Freeze, Releases List of Programs and Services in Jeopardy

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Forceful and Unprecedented Steps to Combat Anti-Semitism

White House Press Release: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism

White House Press Release: OMB Q&A Regarding Memorandum M-25-13

ED Press Release: What They Are Saying: U.S. Department of Education Dismantles DEI in Week One

HHS Press Release: Statement from Dr. Dorothy Fink, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

GAO Report: Higher Education: College Student Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care

GAO Report: Child Care: Subsidy Eligibility and Use and State Waiver Requests Related to New Program Requirements

GAO Report: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen Fraud Risk Management

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.730 — To coordinate Federal research and development efforts focused on modernizing mathematics in STEM education through mathematical and statistical modeling, including data-driven and computational thinking, problem, project, and performance-based learning and assessment, interdisciplinary exploration, and career connections, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Houlahan, Chrissy [Rep.-D-PA-6] (Introduced 01/24/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology

Latest Action: House – 01/24/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Press Release: Houlahan, Baird Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Help America’s Students Compete Globally in Math and Science

H.R.728 — To amend the Head Start Act to include TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, and federal housing assistance as eligible public assistance.

Sponsor: Garamendi, John [Rep.-D-CA-8] (Introduced 01/24/2025) Cosponsors: (15)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/24/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.777 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to send to certain students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid information regarding potential eligibility for assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5] (Introduced 01/28/2025) Cosponsors: (20)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/28/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.808 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit qualified business trade expenses to be treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts.

Sponsor: Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [Rep.-D-WA-3] (Introduced 01/28/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 01/28/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Press Release: Gluesenkamp Perez, Edwards Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Level the Playing Field for Mechanically Gifted Youth

S.310 — A bill to establish a grant program to address the crisis in accessing affordable housing and child care through the co-location of housing and child care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Wyden, Ron [Sen.-D-OR] (Introduced 01/28/2025) Cosponsors: (6)

Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Action: Senate – 01/29/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.Res.49 — A resolution designating the week beginning February 3, 2025, as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week”.

Sponsor: Heinrich, Martin [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 01/30/2025) Cosponsors: (22)

Latest Action: Senate – 01/30/2025 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

DOL Comment Request: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Common Performance Reporting. Comments due on or before February 5, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Evaluation of Teacher Residencies: District Perspective. Comments due on or before February 6, 2025.

ED Comment Request: District Survey on Use of Funds Under Title II, Part A. Comments due on or before February 13, 2025.

ED Comment Request: National Evaluation of the Pathways to Partnerships Program. Comments due on or before February 13, 2025.

ED Grant Notice: Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences. Applications due on or before March 7, 2025.

ED Grant: Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP). Applications due on or before March 10, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal Forms. Comments due on or before March 17, 2025.

ED Notice: Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

Presidential Document: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth

Presidential Document: Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service