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

March 12, 2025

CONGRESS

On Tuesday, March 11, the House voted 217-213 to pass continuing resolution (CR) H.R. 1968. The Senate has until midnight on March 14 to pass the bill or incur a shutdown.

On Monday, March 10, the U.S. Senate voted 67-32 to confirm Rep. Chavez-DeRemer to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12 to 11 to advance to the full Senate Keith Sonderling’s nomination to serve as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor.

A group of House Democrats wrote a letter to Committee on Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer (R-KY) expressing concerns that U.S. Department of Government Efficiency employees are accessing confidential data on contracts and grants “without proper vetting” and are violating the rights of Federal workers at the agency.

ADMINISTRATION

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Designating English as the Official Language of The United States.”

President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness.”

President Trump spoke before a Joint Session of Congress, in which he briefly touched on education-related issues, including the participation of transgender student athletes in sports; free speech on college campuses; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

President Trump wrote on Truth Social that “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested.”

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that nearly 50 percent of their staff will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21.

ED’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to 60 universities under investigation for antisemitic discrimination and harassment warning of potential enforcement actions if institutions do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ED, and U.S. General Services Administration announced the cancellation of approximately $400 million in Federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”

ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released an FAQ document related to its previously released Dear Colleague Letter on the applicability of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard to race-based policies and programming at the Pre-K-12 and college level.

ED announced several new appointees.

ED published a speech titled “Secretary McMahon: Our Department’s Final Mission.”

POLITICO reported that the State Department has yet to lift its freeze on funds for study abroad and international exchange programs.

POLITICO reported that 8 out of 21 people at the Office of Federal Student Aid who handled online complaints have been fired since February.

POLITICO reported that, at an Oval Office event, President Trump expressed support for Federal student loans being administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the Small Business Administration.

COURTS
A group of State attorneys general issued joint guidance to schools in their States instructing that they should continue to foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.

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

U.S. Education Department says it is cutting nearly half of all staff [NPR]

Education secretary: Mass layoffs first step toward total shutdown [The Hill]

Harvard among latest universities to freeze hiring amid federal funding uncertainty [Higher Ed Dive]

Funding freeze leaves Fulbright and study-abroad scholars stranded [The Washington Post ]

House G.O.P. Passes Bill to Avert a Shutdown, Daring the Senate to Accept It [The New York Times]

Education Department warns 60 colleges it could take action over antisemitism concerns [Higher Ed Dive]

Plans to Hike the College-Endowment Tax Are Taking Shape. They’re Not What You’d Expect. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Border czar on Columbia arrest: ‘Absolutely we can’ deport a legal immigrant [The Hill]

Tribes and Native Students Sue Trump Administration Over Staff Cuts [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump signs executive order limiting eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness [The Hill]

A $400M punishment for Columbia University from the Trump administration [Politico]

ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests [NPR]

What Republican Voters Want for Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

The Education Dep. Survives for Now, but Program and Staffing Cuts Cause Upheaval [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Senate tees up final vote on Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead Labor Department [The Hill]

The Future of Apprenticeships Under Trump [Inside Higher Ed]

Georgetown Law School defends practices amid US attorney’s DEI threat [The Hill]

Draft executive order set for Thursday calls for closing Education Dept. [The Washington Post]

NEA, ACLU challenge Education Department’s DEI letter [Higher Ed Dive]

Presidents Weigh In on the Public Confidence Crisis [Inside Higher Ed]

Florida’s universities find themselves in the DOGE house [Politico]

Trump Has Made English the Official Language. What That Means for Schools [Education Week]

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

Senate Majority Leader

Press Release: Thune: Republicans Work Diligently to Prevent a Government Shutdown

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Reports That Donald Trump Will Take Executive Action To Abolish The Department Of Education

Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Delivers Remarks At Press Conference On Trump Administration Executive Order To Abolish The Department Of Education

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Chair Cassidy on Senate Vote to Confirm Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor

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

Press Release: Senate HELP Committee Votes to Approve Nomination of Keith Sonderling for Deputy Secretary of Labor

Press Release: Sanders Calls for Committee Investigation into DOGE, Subpoena for Musk

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Murray, DeLauro Introduce Short-Term Continuing Resolution, Call on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Funding Bills

Press Release: Senator Collins’ Statement on Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Senator Murray Statement on Republicans’ Yearlong Continuing Resolution

Senate Committee on the Budget

Press Release: Statement: CBO Analysis Proves Republican Budget Goals Are Impossible Without Gutting Medicaid

Speaker of the House

Press Release: Speaker Johnson Exposes Democrats’ CR Misinformation

Press Release: Speaker Johnson Statement on 212 Democrats Voting to Shut Down the Government: “A Shameful Display of Coordinated Political Theater”

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Transcript: Leader Jeffries Floor Remarks on the Partisan Republican Spending Bill

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “The House Republican Spending Bill is an Attack on Everyday Americans

Press Release: Leader Jeffries Statement on Ice Arrest at Columbia University

Press Release: Joint Leadership Letter on Partisan Continuing Resolution

House Committee on Education and Workforce

Press Release: DOJ Investigates Workplace Antisemitism at University of California Following @EdWorkforceCmte Probe

Press Release: Owens Holds Hearing on Strengthening WIOA & Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce

Press Release: Ranking Member Adams Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Press Release: Bipartisan Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize

Blog: Hearing Recap: Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce

Statements and Webcast from the March 5 Subcommittee Hearing on “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce”

House Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: House Passes H.R. 1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

Press Release: Cole on Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act: “The Choice is Clear”

Press Release: Cole Floor Remarks on H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

Press Release: Ranking Member DeLauro Floor Remarks on Republicans’ Power Grab Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Illegally Firing Department of Education Staff Undercuts Chance of Realizing American Dream

Press Release: Committee Releases Bill to Keep Government Open, Working for the American People

Press Release: Aderholt Remarks at FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Member Day Hearing

Statements and Webcast from the March 5 Full Committee Hearing on “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education – Member Day”

House Committee on Budget

Press Release: Nonpartisan CBO Analysis Proves Republicans Are Lying About Medicaid Cuts

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Presidential Action: Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Public Service Loan Forgiveness

White House Press Release: What They Are Saying: President Trump’s Masterclass Before Congress

White House Press Release: Remarks By President Trump In Joint Address To Congress

White House Press Release: President Trump’s Historic Address Captivates America

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment

ED Press Release: DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancelation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Launches Initiative to Address Backlog of Biden Administration-Era Complaints Alleging Antisemitism

ED Blog: Education: Whose Job Is It?

DOL Press Release: Lori Chavez-DeRemer sworn in as 30th US Secretary of Labor

HHS Press Release: DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancelation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.1852 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require that any institution of higher education that is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code be deemed a nonprofit institution of higher education for purposes of such Act.

Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5] (Introduced 03/05/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/05/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.1859 — To require income from the first year of an apprenticeship to be disregarded in determining eligibility for assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.

Sponsor: DelBene, Suzan K. [Rep.-D-WA-1] (Introduced 03/05/2025) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 03/05/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Press Release: DelBene Introduces Bill to Increase Participation in Apprenticeships

H.R.1889 — To require that States that receive a grant under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, will not prohibit licensed child care providers from performing simple food preparation of fruits and vegetables.

Sponsor: Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [Rep.-D-WA-3] (Introduced 03/05/2025) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/05/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Remove Regulatory Burdens on Childcare Providers, Support Kids’ Nutrition

H.R.1905 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain students from the calculation to determine if certain private colleges and universities are subject to the excise tax on net investment income, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Buchanan, Vern [Rep.-R-FL-16] (Introduced 03/06/2025) Cosponsors: (6)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 03/06/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Press Release: Buchanan Introduces Bill to Prioritize Enrolling American Students in Higher Education

H.R.1968 — Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-04] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget

Latest Action: House – 03/10/2025 Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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.1999 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require staff and faculty to report foreign gifts and contracts, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: James, John [Rep.-R-MI-10] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R. 2003 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2 percent.

Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Lawler Leads Bipartisan Effort to Lower Federal Student Loan Rates to 2%.

H.R.2028 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.

Sponsor: Babin, Brian [Rep.-R-TX-36] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Babin, Houlahan Reintroduce Bipartisan REDI Act to Address Doctor Shortage and Strengthen U.S. Health Care

H.R.2057 — To affirm and protect the First Amendment rights of students and student organizations at public institutions of higher education.

Sponsor: Houchin, Erin [Rep.-R-IN-9] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.2058 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Sponsor: Houchin, Erin [Rep.-R-IN-9] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

S.880 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education participating in Federal student assistance programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to legacy students or donors.

Sponsor: Merkley, Jeff [Sen.-D-OR] (Introduced 03/06/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/06/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Merkley, Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to End Legacy Admissions at American Colleges and Universities

S.922 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/10/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.937 — A bill to establish that an individual who is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education shall be ineligible to receive a Federal student loan or for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans.

Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.942 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.

Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Rosen, Boozman, Houlahan, Babin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Tackle Doctor Shortage in Rural and Underserved Areas

S.955 — A bill to establish due process requirements for the investigation of intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Blackburn, Marsha [Sen.-R-TN] (Introduced 03/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 03/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

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: Eligibility Designations and Applications for Waiving Eligibility Requirements; Programs Under Parts A and F of Title III and Programs Under Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended (HEA)

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: Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Presidential Document: Designating English as the Official Language of the United States

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