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

March 19, 2025

CONGRESS

By a 217 to 213 vote, the House passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) that would fund the government through September 30. The Senate subsequently passed this measure by a 54 to 46 vote, sending it to the President for his signature to become law.

House Education and Workforce Committee Member, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), passed away after a long battle with cancer.

ADMINISTRATION

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

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) began a reduction in force (RIF), which coupled with previous actions, impacted nearly 50 percent of the Department’s workforce. Subsequently, a group of 21 Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration over this executive action.

The studentaid.gov website, which houses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application activity, was down for several hours on Wednesday.

OCR directed its enforcement staff to make resolving the backlog of complaints alleging antisemitic harassment and violence an immediate priority.

OCR opened investigations into 45 universities for Title VI violations related to “allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs,” as well as 7 universities for “alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation.”

The U.S. Department of Labor announced senior-level appointees.

COURTS

A Federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to temporarily reinstate the Seeking Effective Educator Development (SEED) and Teacher Quality Partnerships (TQP) grant awards that ED terminated last month in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin.

A Federal judge ordered Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to produce a variety of records and respond to questions about plans to downsize Federal agencies, fire employees and suspend Federal contracts.

A Federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, ordering the U.S. Departments of Defense, Treasury, Energy, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Interior to immediately offer all probationary employees that were let go of in mass agency RIFs their jobs back.  In a related, but different case, another Federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, requiring the reinstatement of probationary employees across multiple agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.

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

Trump crackdown has student protesters retrenching, vowing to fight back [The Hill]

International Enrollment’s Precarious Moment [Inside Higher Ed]

What will NCES layoffs mean for the Nation’s Report Card? [Higher Ed Dive]

How “race-neutral” can universities really be? [NPR]

Trump court action accuses UCLA of trying to ‘evade responsibility’ for alleged antisemitism [Los Angeles Times]

Democrats demand details on Education Department layoffs [Higher Ed Dive]

Harvard expanding free tuition in diversity push [The Hill]

Judge Orders Trump Admin. to Restore Teacher-Prep Grants It Slashed [Education Week]

Universities in precarious position as Trump uses research funding as a wedge [The Hill]

Appeals Court Overturns Block on Parts of Trump’s DEI Orders [Inside Higher Ed]

Chaos and confusion as the statistics arm of the Education Department is reduced to a skeletal staff of 3 [The Hechinger Report]

‘I was so close’: Fired federal workers lose student loan forgiveness [The Washington Post]

Schumer says he will vote to advance GOP spending bill, lowering threat of shutdown [The Hill]

Layoffs Gut Federal Education Research Agency [Inside Higher Ed]

Data: Which Ed. Dept. Offices Lost the Most Workers? [Education Week]

Some student loan repayment plans have been suspended. Here’s what borrowers should know [The Hill]

More Colleges Freeze Hiring Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty [Inside Higher Ed]

Democratic Attorneys General Sue Over Gutting of Education Department [The New York Times]

Half of OCR eliminated after Trump Education Department layoffs [Higher Ed Dive]

Civil Rights, Research, and More: What’s Hit Hardest by Massive Ed. Dept. Cuts [Education Week]

Would-Be Rural Teachers See Their College Dreams Dashed by Trump Funding Cuts [The 74]

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

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: On CNN, Democratic Leader Schumer Discusses The Senate Passage Of A Continuing Resolution To Avoid A Government Shutdown

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Avoiding A Devastating Shutdown That Would Empower Trump And Musk

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Partisan Government Funding Bill

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: NEWS: Sanders, 37 Colleagues to Education Secretary: “We Will Not Stand by as You Attempt to Turn Back the Clock on Education in this Country”

Press Release: Chair Cassidy on Senate Vote to Confirm Keith Sonderling as Deputy Secretary of Labor

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Detailed Answers on Trump Admin’s Sweeping Mass Firings at Department of Education

Press Release: Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Support Continuing Resolution, Avert Shutdown

Press Release: On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Urges No Vote on House Republicans’ CR

House Minority Leader

Press Release: LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT FUNDING VOTE

Press Release: Joint Leadership Statement On Government Funding Bill In The Senate

Press Release: House Democratic Leadership Statement On Government Funding Legislation

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “We’re Standing On The Side Of The American People”

House Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: Cole Statement on Senate Passage of Government Funding

Press Release: House Appropriations Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Reject Partisan Continuing Resolution

Press Release: DeLauro on Elon Musk and President Trump’s Year-Long Funding Bill

Press Release: President Trump Actively Destroys the Rule of Law He Claims to Be Restoring

Press Release: Fact: House Republicans Voted to Keep the Government Working

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: President Trump is Remaking America into a Manufacturing Superpower

White House Presidential Action: ADDITIONAL RESCISSIONS OF HARMFUL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ACTIONS

White House Presidential Action: CONTINUING THE REDUCTION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Continues the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Rescinds Additional Harmful Biden Executive Actions

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits Three Florida Schools

ED Press Release U.S. Department of Education Announces More Than 8 Million FAFSA® Forms Complete and Additional Form Improvements

ED Press Release: Office for Civil Rights Initiates Title VI Investigations into Institutions of Higher Education

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

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces confirmation of Keith E. Sonderling as Deputy Secretary

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces senior Trump Administration appointees

Legislative Movement in Congress:

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

Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget

Latest Action: Senate – 03/12/2025 Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1700)

H.R.2151 — To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize a grant program to support students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

Sponsor: Norcross, Donald [Rep.-D-NJ-1] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/14/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.2104 — To establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.

Sponsor: Carey, Mike [Rep.-R-OH-15] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/14/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.2099 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Allen, Rick W. [Rep.-R-GA-12] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/14/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Carey, Beatty Introduce Legislation Establishing National STEM Week

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

Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 03/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget

Latest Action: 03/15/2025 Signed by President.

Press Release: Cole Statement on Senate Passage of Government Funding

H.R.1048 — DETERRENT Act

Sponsor: Baumgartner, Michael [Rep.-R-WA-5] (Introduced 02/06/2025) Cosponsors: (21)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-16

Latest Action: House – 03/14/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 9.

H.R.2204 — To require an institution of higher education that becomes aware that a student having nonimmigrant status under subparagraph (F)(i) or (J) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) has endorsed or supported a foreign terrorist organization to notify the SEVIS, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Langworthy, Nicholas A. [Rep.-R-NY-23] (Introduced 03/18/2025) Cosponsors: (6)

Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/18/2025 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: Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bill to Remove Visa and Begin Deportation Process for Any Students Supportive of Foreign Terrorist Organizations

H.Res.228 — Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2025 as “National CACFP Week”.

Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 03/18/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 03/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

S.982 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose campus polices relating to responding to certain incidents of civil disturbance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 03/12/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/12/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.994 — A bill to provide for accountability in higher education.

Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL] (Introduced 03/12/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/12/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1010 — A bill to prohibit the use of funds for universities that provide support to the People’s Liberation Army, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Lankford, James [Sen.-R-OK] (Introduced 03/12/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate – 03/12/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S.1024 — A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize a grant program to support students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ] (Introduced 03/13/2025) Cosponsors: (0)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 03/13/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.Res.131 — A resolution designating the third week of March 2025 as “National CACFP Week”.

Sponsor: Boozman, John [Sen.-R-AR] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Latest Action: Senate – 03/14/2025 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res.129 — A resolution recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.

Sponsor: Heinrich, Martin [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (9)

Latest Action: Senate – 03/14/2025 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Press Release: Heinrich, Britt, Hirono, Hyde-Smith Resolution Honoring National Board Certified Teachers Passes Senate

S.1070 — A bill to establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.

Sponsor: Ernst, Joni [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 03/14/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

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

NSF Grant Notice: Applied Mathematics. Applications due on or before November 17, 2025.

NSF Grant Noice: Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education. Applications due on or before June 20, 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

NIH Notice: National Institute of Mental Health; Notice of Closed Meetings

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