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

March 5, 2025

CONGRESS

On March 3, the U.S. Senate voted 51-45 to confirm Linda McMahon’s nomination to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted 14 to 9 to advance Rep. Lori Chavez DeRemer’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Labor to the full Senate.

The House passed, H.Con.Res.14, the chamber’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution by a 217 to 215 vote.

Eighty Members of Congress in the House and Senate wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) expressing concern with the recent terminations of contracts and letting go of ED staff.

ADMINISTRATION

ED removed applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and Federal direct consolidation loans from https://studentaid.gov/.

ED launched a public portal for parents, students, teachers and the broader community to submit reports of “illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning.”

ED’s Office of Financial Aid provided an update on the launch of batch institutional corrections via the Electronic Data Exchange for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycles. It also shared information about the resolution of an issue that resulted in a blank Student Aid Index without a reason for rejection.

POLITICO reported that ED is offering voluntary early retirement to its employees.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reopened the application portal for the 1890 National Scholars Program and extended the application deadline from March 1 to March 15.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi sent letters to officials in California, Maine and Minnesota warning them that they must bar transgender students from women’s sports or face legal measures.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that it will be visiting ten university campuses that experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023.

COURTS

A Federal district judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction on the implementation of certain provisions of President Trump’s Executive Orders pertaining to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

A Federal district judge issued a temporary restraining order, barring ED and OPM from disclosing personally identifiable information to DOGE until March 10.

A Federal district judge ordered OPM to rescind directives that initiated the termination of probationary employees at several Federal agencies.

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

Trump Stresses Transparency but Releases Little Accurate Data [Inside Higher Ed]

Some student loan repayment plans have been suspended. Here’s what to know. [The Washington Post]

Trump threatens to deport, imprison foreign students for ‘illegal protests’ [Politico]

Lumina sets new postsecondary attainment goal with focus on college ROI [Higher Ed Dive]

How small can the Education Department get without Congress changing the law? [The Hill]

Linda McMahon confirmed as Trump’s Education secretary [The Hill]

Trump Admin. Says Race-Based Classes Don’t Automatically Break the Law [Education Week]

Senate blocks ban on transgender athletes, as Trump pushes forward [The Washington Post]

What Does the Education Department’s DEI Guidance Really Mean? [Inside Higher Ed]

As Ohio Republicans Reshape Higher Ed, University Presidents Stay Quiet [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

ED Shares More Details About DEI Guidance [Inside Higher Ed]

Researchers in ‘Limbo’ as Trump Battles Courts [Inside Higher Ed]

Hiring freezes, fewer grad students: Funding uncertainty hits colleges [The Washington Post]

Education Department creates ‘End DEI’ portal to field public complaints [The Hill]

Wary Colleges Scramble to Meet DEI Deadline [Inside Higher Ed]

It could be months before affordable student loan repayment plans return [The Washington Post]

As Colleges Face Funding Threat, Accreditors Offer Flexibility [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump Is Targeting DEI in Higher Ed. But What Does He Mean? [Inside Higher Ed]

AFT sues Education Department over anti-DEI guidance [Higher Ed Dive]

Moore wants to pause Md. school reforms — but lawmakers are pushing back [The Washington Post]

Under Pressure, CUNY Removes Palestine Scholar Job Posting [Inside Higher Ed]

Penn State will close some campuses amid enrollment decline, president says [Higher Ed Dive]

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

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Condemning Donald Trump’s Unfit Nominee For Secretary Of Education, Linda McMahon

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: TOMORROW: Senate HELP Committee to Hold Confirmation Hearing on Nomination for NIH Director

Press Release: Sanders, Scott, Schumer, Jeffries, Murray, Bipartisan Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Protect the Rights of American Workers

Press Release: Chair Cassidy Condemns Democrats Blocking Bill to Protect Women’s Sports

Press Release: Chair Cassidy Applauds Senate Confirmation of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education

Press Release: Next Week: Senate HELP Committee to Consider Nomination for Deputy Secretary of Labor

Press Release: Senate HELP Committee Votes to Approve Nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Secretary of Labor

Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Confirmation Hearing on Nomination for Deputy Secretary of Labor

Webcast from the February 27 Full Committee Executive Session on the Nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor

Statements and Webcast from the February 27 Full Committee Hearing on the Nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor

March 5: Full Committee Hearing on the Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health

Witness: Jayanta Bhattacharya

562 Dirksen and via webcast

10:00 a.m. ET

March 6: Full Committee Executive Session on the Nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor

Witness: Hon. Keith Sonderling, Boca Raton, FL

562 Dirksen and via webcast

9:30 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Cole Statement on Funding Negotiations, Democrat Leadership Demands

Senate Committee on the Budget

Press Release: Chairman Graham Statement On House Adopting Its Budget Resolution

Speaker of the House

Press Release: House Republican Leadership Statement on Passage of House Budget Resolution

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Donald Trump and House Republicans and Lying to the American People

Press Release: Dear Colleague Regarding the Joint Session of Congress and Related Events

House Committee on Education and Workforce

Press Release: Chair Walberg on State of Antisemitism in America’s Universities

Press Release: CTE Month: Rebuilding America’s Workforce Better Than Ever

Press Release: Chair Owens Announces Hearing on Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce

Press Release: Chairman Walberg Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing on “Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy”

Blog: Hearing Recap: Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on the American Workforce and Economy

Statement and Webcast from the February 26 Hearing on Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy.

House Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Appropriators Conduct Hearings, Gather Testimony

March 5: Full Committee Hearing on “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education – Member Day”

2358-C RHOB and via webcast

10:30 a.m. ET

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: President Trump is Putting American Workers First – and Bringing Back American Manufacturing

White House Press Release: Democrats Showed Whose Side They’re On – and it’s Not the American People

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Designates English as the Official Language of the United States

White House Executive Order: Designating English as the Official Language of The United States

ED Press Release: Secretary McMahon: Our Department’s Final Mission

ED Press Release: ED, HHS, and GSA Announce Additional Measures to End Anti-Semitic Harassment on College Campuses

ED Press Release: U.S. Senate Confirms Linda McMahon as 13th Secretary of Education

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Launches “End DEI” Portal

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Releases Statement on Maine’s Title IX Compliance

HHS Press Release: HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Additional Measures to End Anti-Semitic Harassment on College Campuses

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.1589 —To authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain aliens, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Garcia, Sylvia R. [Rep.-D-TX-29] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (199)

Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee.

Press Release: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Leads 200 Colleagues in Reintroducing the Bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act

H.R.1633 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to codify a grant program to promote and assist in the reentry of ex-offenders into the workforce.

Sponsor: Smucker, Lloyd [Rep.-R-PA-11] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/26/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.1635 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Stevens, Haley M. [Rep.-D-MI-11] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/26/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.1641 — To require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA applications to include a career and technical education acknowledgment.

Sponsor: Williams, Roger [Rep.-R-TX-25] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/26/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Congressman Williams Introduces Bipartisan Bills for CTE Awareness Month

H.R.1662 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employees who participate in qualified apprenticeship programs.

Sponsor: Budzinski, Nikki [Rep.-D-IL-13] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Ways and Means; Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Action: House – 02/27/2025 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.1666 — To index the maximum value of Federal Pell Grants to inflation.

Sponsor: Casten, Sean [Rep.-D-IL-6] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (25)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Casten, Lee Reintroduce Bill to Index Pell Grant to Inflation

H.R.1739 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for fiscal accountability, to require institutions of higher education to publish information regarding student success, to provide for school accountability for student loans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Roy, Chip [Rep.-R-TX-21] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Act.

Press Release: Rep. Roy and Sen. Lee Reintroduce Legislation to Reform Higher Education

H.R.1759 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers of Parent PLUS loans or loans under section 428B made on behalf of a dependent student to repay such loans pursuant to an income-contingent repayment plan or income-based repayment plan, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Waters, Maxine [Rep.-D-CA-43] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (19)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Maxine Waters Introduces Legislation Expanding Parents’ Access to Affordable PLUS Loan Repayment Plans

H.R.1801 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the exclusion for certain employer payments of student loans under educational assistance programs permanent.

Sponsor: Malliotakis, Nicole [Rep.-R-NY-11] (Introduced 03/03/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 03/03/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1821 — To deny Federal funding to any State or political subdivision of a State that has in effect any law, policy, or procedure that prevents or impedes a State or local law enforcement official from maintaining custody of an alien pursuant to an immigration detainer issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Calvert, Ken [Rep.-R-CA-41] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 03/04/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

H.R.1825 — To direct the Secretary of Education to eliminate the Office of Enforcement within the Office of Federal Student Aid, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/04/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

H.R.1826 — To implement or strengthen programs that increase the supply of quality child care services by enhancing the wages of child care workers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Carbajal, Salud O. [Rep.-D-CA-24] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/04/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.1827 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the employer-provided child care credit and the dependent care assistance exclusion.

Sponsor: Carbajal, Salud O. [Rep.-D-CA-24] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 03/04/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

S.745 — A bill to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require notification with respect to individualized education program teams, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Schmitt, Eric [Sen.-R-MO] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.758 — A bill to support the establishment of an apprenticeship college consortium.

Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN] (Introduced 02/26/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.772 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the exclusion for certain employer payments of student loans under educational assistance programs permanent.

Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Finance

Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Press Release: Warner, Thune, Malliotakis & Peters Introduce Legislation to Address Student Debt Crisis

S.801 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for fiscal accountability, to require institutions of higher education to publish information regarding student success, to provide for school accountability for student loans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Lee and Roy Introduce HERO Act for 119th Congress

S.810 — A bill to ensure that there are no reductions in funding for critical education programs for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA] (Introduced 02/27/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Ahead of Confirmation Vote for Sec. of Education Linda McMahon, Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Protect Federal Funding for Public Schools.

S.826 — A bill to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground of religion, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for rigorous enforcement of prohibitions against discrimination by institutions of higher education on the basis of antisemitism, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 03/04/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.846 — A bill to implement or strengthen programs that increase the supply of quality child care services by enhancing the wages of child care workers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Britt, Katie Boyd [Sen.-R-AL] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (4)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 03/04/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1499-1500)

Press Release: U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Tim Kaine, Representatives Mike Lawler, Salud Carbajal Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Proposal to Make Child Care More Affordable

S.847 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the employer-provided child care credit and the dependent care assistance exclusion.

Sponsor: Britt, Katie Boyd [Sen.-R-AL] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (8)

Committees: Senate – Finance

Latest Action: Senate – 03/04/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1499-1500)

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

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

Children and Families Administration Comment Request: Child Care Improper Payments Data Collection Instructions Comments 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.

NSF Comment Request: Request for Information on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Comments due on or before March 15, 2025.

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

ED Comment Request: 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Comments due on or before April 7, 2025.

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

ED Notice: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program-Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Training and Technical Assistance; Corrections

ED Notice: Retroactive Application of the Revised Version of the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance

Presidential Document: Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative

Presidential Document: Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias (EO 14202)

Presidential Document: Women’s Sports; Efforts To Keep Men Out (EO 14201)

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

Presidential Document: Anti-Semitism; Additional Measures To Combat (EO 14188)

NSF Grant Notice: Facilitating Research at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions. Applications accepted anytime