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

CONGRESS

In a 51 to 48 vote, the Senate advanced President Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package, impacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid. Subsequently, the House also approved the measure on a 216 to 213 vote.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) released subcommittee toplines for discretionary spending in fiscal year 2026, which include a total of $705.6 billion for non-defense spending and $184.491 billion for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) discretionary spending.

In a 12 to 11 vote, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade passed H.R. 4312, the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act.

A group of Democrat Senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging the immediate release of nearly $7 billion in Federal education formula grant funds currently being withheld by ED. Subsequently, a group of GOP Senators also sent a letter calling for the release of these funds.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) launched the implementation of a new workforce development partnership, which involves DOL taking on a “greater role in administering the adult education and family literacy programs funded under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and career and technical education (CTE) programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.”

Media outlets have reported that ED will release 21^st Century Community Learning Center funds to the States. ED has not shared information on the status of the other five State formula programs impacted by the funding freeze.

COURTS

The Supreme Court decided, in a 6 to 3 ruling, to lift a lower-court injunction blocking the Trump Administration’s mass reduction in force (RIF) at ED and from implementing its new ED and DOL workforce development partnership.

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

Federal Grant Cuts Don’t Spare Red States, New Report Shows [Insider Higher Ed]

Education Department pauses student loan forgiveness under IBR plan [The Hill]

Columbia Expels, Suspends Student Protesters [Inside Higher Ed]

Judge pauses Mississippi’s DEI ban at public colleges and schools [Higher Ed Dive]

White House eyeing education cuts for next funding clawback package [Politico]

Harvard slams Trump administration funding cuts in pivotal court hearing [The Washington Post]

What does Trump’s executive order on foreign gift reporting mean for colleges? [Higher Ed Dive]

NIH to Limit AI Use, Cap P.I. Grant Applications at 6 per Year [Inside Higher Education]

Stanford researcher sues over termination, alleging antisemitism [Higher Ed Dive]

‘Back to the Dark Ages’: Education Research Staggered by Trump Cuts [The 74]

Harvard and the Trump administration face off in court over funding cuts [The Washington Post]

Staffing Shortages at ED Hurt College Operations [Inside Higher Ed]

State Dept. Official Says Criticism of Israel Can Lead to Visa Revocations [The New York Times]

AI-Enabled Cheating Points to ‘Untenable’ Peer Review System [Inside Higher Ed]

How Trump’s antisemitism task force is leading an assault on DEI, colleges [The Washington Post]

Harvard Creates New Public Service Program, as Trump Slashes Federal Jobs [The New York Times]

Columbia University formally adopts controversial antisemitism definition [Higher Ed Dive]

Michigan Law Adds AI Essay Prompt [Inside Higher Ed]

Labor Department to take on day-to-day management of CTE programs [Higher Ed Dive]

Workforce Pell Grant Expansion Faces ‘Aggressive’ Timeline [Inside Higher Ed]

Columbia announces additional steps to combat antisemitism amid negotiations with Trump administration [The Hill]

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

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson Highlights House Republicans’ Extensive Record of Success During the 119^th Congress

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “House Republicans Are Marching Us Toward A Possible Government Shutdown That Will Hurt The American People”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: There’s a Bipartisan Annual Appropriations Process Within Reach for the First Time in Years

Senate Minority Leader:
Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Remarks And Q&A On Republican Appropriations Chaos

July 24: Full Committee Executive Session on Nominations of David Brian Castillo, of Washington, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labor; Brian Christine, of Alabama, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services; Brittany Panuccio, of Florida, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Jonathan Snare, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; David Barker, of Iowa, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Department of Education; Mary Christina Riley, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education.
Location to be determined.
Time to be determined.

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg Statement on Columbia University Discipline Efforts

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on DOJ and ED Investigations into George Mason University

Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte Will Mark Up Bills to Empower Workers, Protect Opportunities for Student-Athletes, and Address Human Trafficking — Tomorrow at 9:30 AM

July 23: Full Committee Mark Up of H.R. 1319, H.R. 1320, H.R. 4366, H.R. 4312, H.R. 4307
2175 Rayburn
9:30 a.m. ET

House Minority
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “The One Big Ugly Bill Is A Complete And Total Failure”

July 24: Full Committee Executive Session on Nominations of David Brian Castillo, of Washington, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labor; Brian Christine, of Alabama, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services; Brittany Panuccio, of Florida, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Jonathan Snare, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; David Barker, of Iowa, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Department of Education; Mary Christina Riley, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education.
Location to be determined.
Time to be determined.

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg Talks Republican Efforts to Empower Students

July 23: Full Committee Mark Up of H.R. 1319, H.R. 1320, H.R. 4366, H.R. 4312, H.R. 4307
2175 Rayburn

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Celebrates Court Requiring the Office of Management and Budget to Restore Transparency Website

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: CBO Reports the Final “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Tally Will Add $3.4 Trillion to Deficits Over 10 Years

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on Court Victory Requiring Trump Administration to Restore Public Access to Budget Data

Speaker of the House
Press Release: House Claws Back $9 Billion in Wasteful Spending, Sends Rescissions Package to President Trump’s Desk

Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Squawk Box: This is the Beginning of a Great Run for America

Press Release: Chairman Babin Op-Ed: America Must Remain the World Leader in Science and Technology

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of July 14, 2025

Press Release: The Republican Recap: Week of July 14, 2025

Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of July 21, 2025

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: UPDATED AGENDA: Senate HELP Committee to Consider President Trump’s Labor, Health Nominees

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Murray Demands All Remaining Education Funds Blocked By Trump Get Released Immediately

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise Applauds Passage of Rescissions Act

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Joint Democratic Leadership Statement on the Reckless Republican Rescissions Package

Press Release: Chairman Walberg on Sending $9 Billion-Saving Recissions Package to President Trump’s Desk

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Approves Updated FY26 Subcommittee Allocations

Press Release: DeLauro Statement to House Rules Committee Opposing Republican Rubberstamp on President’s Stealing from the American People

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Merkley Statement on Senate Republicans Rubber Stamping the Trump Administration’s Disastrous DOGE Cuts

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on Senate Passage of Rescissions Package

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Pallone Slams Republicans for Defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Gutting Local News and Emergency Preparedness

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: Foxx Opening Remarks on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune Joins Bret Baier on Fox News

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: ICYMI: Chairman Walberg Talks Antisemitism on NewsNation

Press Release: House & Senate Education Leaders Statement on Trump Admin Illegally Moving Department of Education Programs to DOL as Part of Its Efforts to Dismantle the Department

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray Slams Republicans’ Rescissions Package on Senate Floor

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Merkley Statement on Senate Republicans Rubber Stamping the Trump Administration’s Disastrous DOGE Cuts

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington Joins Fox Business to Discuss “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Press Release: Cantwell Condemns Republicans for Zeroing-Out Funding for Public Broadcasting, Decimating the Nation’s Emergency Information System & Leaving Millions Without Lifesaving Information When They Need It Most

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: Secretary McMahon Tours Howard University

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Artificial Intelligence Use in Schools, Proposes Additional Supplemental Priority

White House Executive Order: Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service

White House Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Creates New Classification of Federal Employee to Help Serve the American People

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Trump-Vance Appointees

White House Press Release: Nominations Sent to the Senate

White House Press Release: ICYMI: President Trump Announces $92+ Billion in AI, Energy Powerhouse Investments

White House Press Release: President Trump Has Kept His Promises — and Then Some

ED Blog: Partnering with the Department of Labor to Create a National Skills Currency

White House Press Release: President Trump Marks Six Months in Office with Historic Successes

ED Press Release: Department of Education Announces Project SERV Grant to Support Texas Communities Impacted by Flooding

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Immediate Implementation of Higher Education Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Legislative Movement in Congress:

S.2373 — A bill to amend section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require certain institutions of higher education to develop and implement a venue-specific heat-related illnesses emergency action plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD] (Introduced 07/22/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 07/22/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.4555 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to rename master promissory notes for loans made under part D of title IV of such Act to student loan contracts.
Sponsor: Underwood, Lauren [Rep.-D-IL-14] (Introduced 07/21/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 07/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.4 — Rescissions Act of 2025
Sponsor: Scalise, Steve [Rep.-R-LA-1] (Introduced 06/06/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Appropriations | Senate – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: House – 07/18/2025 House agreed to Senate amendment pursuant to H. Res. 590.

H.Res.590 — Relating to consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 4) to rescind certain budget authority proposed to be rescinded in special messages transmitted to the Congress by the President on June 3, 2025, in accordance with section 1012(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
Sponsor: Foxx, Virginia [Rep.-R-NC-5] (Introduced 07/17/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Rules
Latest Action: House – 07/18/2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.R.4 — Rescissions Act of 2025
Sponsor: Scalise, Steve [Rep.-R-LA-1] (Introduced 06/06/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Appropriations | Senate – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 07/17/2025 Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 – 48.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Secretary’s Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education. Comments due on or before August 20, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Rural Education Achievement Program: Small, Rural School Achievement Program and Rural and Low-Income School Program Application. Comments due on or before August 20, 2025.

HHS Notice: Providing Technical Assistance Related to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Comments due on or before September 22, 2025.

ED Comment Request: 21st Century Community Learning Centers Annual Performance Report. Comments due on or before August 21, 2025.

ED Notice: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2025-2026 Award Year.

ED Comment Request: Application for Client Assistance Program. Comments due on or before August 18, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Common Core of Data (CCD) School-Level Finance Survey (SLFS) 2025-2027. Comments due on or before September 16, 2025.

ED Comment Request: National Public Education Financial Survey (NPEFS) 2025-2027. Comments due on or before September 16, 2025.

ED Notice: Request for Nominations: National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE).

ED Comment Request: Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program. Comments due on or before August 18, 2025.

ED Grant Notice: School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program. Applications due on or before August 18, 2025.