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

ADMINISTRATION

POLITICO reported that the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo instructing Federal agencies to identify programs, projects and activities that will lose discretionary funding on October 1 if Congress does not reach a fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding agreement and to consider reduction-in-force plans for staff working in these impacted areas.

President Trump issued a proclamation that directed that a new $100,000 fee be placed on H-1B visa applications. The U.S. Department of Labor subsequently launched Project Firewall, an H-1B enforcement initiative.

The Office of Federal Student Aid published data on the FY 2022 Official Cohort Default Rates.

The U.S. Department of Education released materials pertaining to the upcoming Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee negotiated rulemaking sessions.

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

What the Government Shutdown Could Mean for Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

The longer the shutdown, the worse for schools, education experts say [The Hill]

Attempt to Deport Protesters Violates Foreign Students and Scholars’ Speech Rights, Judge Rules [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Judge Dismisses Tuition Price-Fixing Lawsuit [Inside Higher Ed]

What Would a Shutdown Mean for Rule Making? [Inside Higher Ed]

HHS looks to block Harvard from federal funding [The Hill]

How a Smaller NIH Could Have Hindered Medical Research [Inside Higher Ed]

Can Colleges Be Run Using AI? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

How Will a Federal Shutdown Affect Schools? 5 Big Questions, Answered [Education Week]

Trump’s $100,000 Visa Upends Lives: ‘My Dreams Were Shattered’ [The New York Times]

White House considers funding advantage for colleges that align with Trump policies [The Washington Post]

Trump isn’t cutting Pell Grants, after all − but other changes could complicate financial aid for some students [The Hill]

Higher Ed’s H-1B Visas in 4 Charts [Inside Higher Ed]

University of South Dakota must reinstate professor on leave over Kirk comments, judge orders [Higher Ed Dive]

Most adults say higher education is important but want colleges to stay out of politics [Higher Ed Dive]

Doctoral Programs Were Already Under Strain. Things May Be Getting Worse. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

ED Panel to Weigh Sorting of Grad and Professional Programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Lawsuit accusing colleges of overcharging divorced parents is dismissed [The Washington Post]

UCLA chancellor warns of ‘red lines we cannot cross’ in negotiations with Trump administration [POLITICO]

2026–27 FAFSA Form Now Available to All [Inside Higher Ed]

There’s A New Push to Save Child Care on College Campuses [The 74]

Kentucky Agrees to End In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Now Is Not the Time to Zero Out Adult Education [The 74]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on CNBC: Democrats Are Willing to Inflict Pain on the American People Just to “Fight Trump”

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on the House Steps: “House Democrats are on Duty. House Republicans are on Vacation”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries Tells Rally: “We Are in This Fight Until We Win This Fight”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Our View Will Continue to be Cancel the Cuts, Lower the Cost, Save Healthcare”

Press Release: Jeffries, Schumer Statement on the Trump Shutdown

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

Press Release: Thune Joins Squawk Box on CNBC

Press Release: Democrats Hold Government Funding Hostage for Radical Demands

Press Release: Democrats Prepare to Shut Down the Government and Bring Pain to Their States

Press Release: Democrats Choose a Shutdown

Press Release: Schumer and Democrats Shut Down the Government

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Remarks Following Vote on Republicans’ Partisan CR as They Continue to Refuse to Negotiate on Government Funding Ahead of a Shutdown and Republican-Led Healthcare Crisis

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on Republicans Sending America Towards a Shutdown and Healthcare Crisis Because of Their Refusal to Engage in Bipartisan Negotiations

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Requests Information on Improving Transparency in Higher Education, Lowering Costs for Students

Press Release: Sanders, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Make Medical, Dental and Nursing Schools Tuition Free and Expand the Health Care Workforce

October 1: Full Committee Hearing on “Nominations of Scott Mayer to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, James Murphy to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Rosario Palmieri to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy”
Witnesses: Scott Mayer; James Murphy; and Rosario Palmieri.
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Murray Remarks on Republicans Pushing the Country into a Shutdown, Refusing to Prevent Families’ Health Care Costs from More than Doubling

Press Release: Senator Murray Takes to Floor to Lay Out How Republicans Are Forcing a Shutdown, Refusing to Prevent Americans’ Health Care Costs from Exploding

Press Release: Senator Murray Comments After Republicans Push Country Into Shutdown

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: The Democrat Counterfeit Resolution: A $1.5 Trillion Ransom Note to Taxpayers

Press Release: Chairman Cole on ABC: Democrats are to blame for shutting the government down

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on the Trump-Republican Government Shutdown

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Debunking the Democrats’ Shutdown Delusion

Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Fox News: Democrats Will Shut Down the Government Just to Satisfy Their Far-Left Base

Press Release: Democrats’ $1.5 Trillion Shutdown Scheme: Benefits to Border-Crossers, Americans Abandoned

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries In The Capitol: “Republicans Want to Continue to Gut the Healthcare of Everyday Americans”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries on CNN: “House Republicans are on Vacation Right Now. House Democrats are Here.”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries On MSNBC: “Bigotry Will Get You Nowhere”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: The Ball Is in Democrats’ Court to Prevent a Government Shutdown

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Remarks Following Meeting with President Trump and Congressional Leaders on the Need for Bipartisan Negotiations to Avert a Shutdown and Protect Healthcare

Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Remarks and Q&A at Press Conference Following the Bipartisan Meeting at White House to Avoid a Government Shutdown

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
October 1: Full Committee Hearing on “Nominations of Scott Mayer to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, James Murphy to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Rosario Palmieri to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy”
Witnesses: Scott Mayer; James Murphy; and Rosario Palmieri.
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg, Stefanik Press Harvard about Cultivating Antisemitic Environment

Press Release: Walberg Leads Investigation into Whether NEA Sold Out Teachers’ Retirement Security

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Murray Remarks on Senate Republican Bill to Empower Trump with a Forever CR—Giving Up Lawmakers’ Power Over Spending

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Non-Partisan Government Accountability Office: Trump is Playing Politics with Emergency Relief

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Senators Cantwell, Booker & Blumenthal Introduce Student Athlete Fairness & Enforcement (SAFE) Act

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson in Louisiana: Discusses GOP Efforts to Keep Government Funded, Negative Effects of Potential Democrat Shutdown

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise: Senate Democrats Must Do Their Part to Avoid Government Shutdown

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “The American People Have Had Enough. And Democrats are Standing on Their Side”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “If the Government Shuts Down, It’s Because Republicans Have Made the Decision to Shut the Government Down”

Press Release: Jeffries, Schumer Statement on Trump Finally Coming to the Table for a White House Meeting

Press Release: Leader Jeffries on Abc This Week: Republicans are Obsessed with Canceling the Healthcare of the American People

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: The American Public Does Not Support Democrats Shutting Down the Government

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Schumer, Jeffries Statement On Trump Finally Coming To The Table For A White House Meeting

Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Schumer On Meet The Press – Republicans Must “Sit Down And Have Serious Negotiations” With Democrats To Avoid A Government Shutdown, Schumer: GOP Feeling “The Heat And They Now Want To Sit Down”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: New Government Watchdog Report on Sexual Misconduct in JROTC Programs

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray, DeLauro Statement on Supreme Court’s Preliminary Ruling on Trump’s “Pocket Rescission” Gambit

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Republicans Present a United Front to Responsibly Fund the Government

Press Release: DeLauro, Murray Statement on Supreme Court’s Preliminary Ruling on Trump’s “Pocket Rescission” Gambit

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Big, Beautiful Success Story: Small Businesses Hiring More Workers, Expect Better Business Conditions

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Republicans Have Determined That They Want to Shut Down the Government and Hurt the American People”

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: ICYMI: Leader Schumer Statement On OMB Memo Threatening Mass Federal Firings As Republicans Push Country Closer To Shutdown

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Sounds Alarm on Stanford Allegedly Forcing Student to Pay Union Dues to Fund Radical Left Ideology

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Murray Statement on OMB Memo Issued Last Night

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Press Release: American Small Businesses, Universities, Former Trump Administration Official Add to Growing Support for One-Year Extension of Small Business Innovation Programs

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Jeffries, Schumer Statement on Trump Marching the Country Toward a Painful Government Shutdown

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Reality Check: Democrats Don’t Want to Negotiate, They Want to Dictate

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Poll: Most Americans Say No As Radical Left Drives Democrat Shutdown

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Find that Minnesota Violated Title IX

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Announces New Members and Names Next Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Awards $86 million to 14 States for Investment in Skills Training Programs for Critical In-Demand, Emerging Industries

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Refers Harvard University for Suspension and Debarment Proceedings

White House Press Release: Democrats Put Veterans, Seniors, Public Safety at Risk with Shutdown Push

White House Press Release: Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Awards Over $153 Million in American History and Civics Seminars Grants

ED Blog: Addressing the Grade Inflation Collective Action Problem

DOL Press Release: ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlights manufacturing investments, workforce training during America at Work stops in Delaware, Maryland

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Refers Harvard University for Suspension and Debarment Proceedings

GAO Report: Sexual Harassment: Actions Needed to Ensure Consistent Agency Policies for Research Institutions

GAO Report: Federal Research: Agency Funding and Outreach to Historically Black, Tribal, and Minority-Serving Colleges and Universities

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Earliest FAFSA Form Launch in Program History

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.503 — NET Act
Sponsor: Hickenlooper, John W. [Sen.-D-CO] (Introduced 02/10/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 171.

S.2928 — To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform and reduce fraud and abuse in certain visa programs for aliens working temporarily in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 09/29/2025) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Press Release: Grassley, Durbin Propose Bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reforms to Protect American Workers and Stop Outsourcing Jobs

S. 2933 — To protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cantwell, Maria [Sen.-D-WA] (Introduced 09/29/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Senators Cantwell, Booker & Blumenthal Introduce Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act

S. 2937 — To require the Secretary of Energy to establish the Advanced Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hawley, Josh [Sen.-R-MO] (Introduced 09/29/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Hawley, Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan AI Evaluation Legislation to Put Americans First

H.R.1458 — VETS Opportunity Act of 2025
Sponsor: Ciscomani, Juan [Rep.-R-AZ-6] (Introduced 02/21/2025) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 09/26/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 262.

H.R.5609 — To direct the National Institutes of Health to reinstate funding to recipients of grants or other awards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Stevens, Haley M. [Rep.-D-MI-11] (Introduced 09/26/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 09/26/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Press Release: Congresswoman Haley Stevens Introduces the Stop RFK’s Bad Science (BS) Act.

H.R.5371 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 09/30/2025 Upon reconsideration, under the order of 9/18/25, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55 – 45. Record Vote Number: 535.

H.R.5621 — Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025
Sponsor: DeGette, Diana [Rep.-D-CO-1] (Introduced 09/30/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 09/30/2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.5628 — To amend title 31, United States Code, to reimburse employees of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia, Federal contractors, and the States for certain costs incurred as a result of a Government shutdown, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Horsford, Steven [Rep.-D-NV-4] (Introduced 09/30/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 09/30/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Press Release: Horsford: Public Servants Shouldn’t Pay for GOP Failure to Fund Government

H.R.5634 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a limitation on the amount of entitlement to educational assistance payable for flight training under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Kean, Thomas H. [Rep.-R-NJ-7] (Introduced 09/30/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 09/30/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.5637 — To prohibit the pay of Members of Congress during periods in which a Government shutdown is in effect, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Kennedy, Mike [Rep.-R-UT-3] (Introduced 09/30/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – House Administration; Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 09/30/2025 Referred to the Committee on House Administration, 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.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

DOL Comment Request: National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 2027 Pre-Test. Comments due on or before October 31, 2025.

NSF Comment Request: NCSES Generic Clearance for Improvement Projects. Comments due on or before October 31, 2025.

NSF Comment Request: Standard Application Process (SAP) Portal. Comments due on or before October 31, 2025.

ED Notice: Contingent Additional Meeting Dates for Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

ED Comment Request: Accrediting Agency Currently Undergoing Review During the Period of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Comments due on or before October 31, 2025.

ED Grant Notice: Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program. Applications due on or before October 29, 2025.

HRSA Comment Request: Initial and Reconciliation Application Forms to Report Graduate Medical Education Data and Full-Time Equivalent Residents Trained by Hospitals Participating in the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program, etc. Comments due on or before October 29, 2025.

NSF Grant Notice: Accelerating Research Translation. Applications due on or before January 15, 2026.

NSF Grant Notice: NSF National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program. Applications accepted anytime.

ED Proposed Rule: Proposed Priority and Definitions-Secretary’s Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness. Comments are due on or before October 27, 2025.

ED Proposed Rule: Proposed Priority and Definitions-Secretary’s Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Meaningful Learning Opportunities. Comments are due on or before October 27, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Feedback on Redesigning the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Comments are due on or before October 15, 2025.