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

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued the final rule regarding the programmatic earnings test for Title IV higher education programs that was established under H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act or the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

ED released guidance on its implementation of the revised definition of “professional degree programs” following a recent Federal district court order partially staying ED’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Federal Student Loan Program final rule.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of Labor.

COURTS

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) upheld laws in the State of Idaho and the State of West Virginia that prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.

SCOTUS blocked President Trump’s executive order that banned birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and some temporary foreign visitors.

Two Federal district courts struck down an ED rule that would have disqualified employers deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose” under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

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

Education Dept. Eyes Changing College Merger, Civil Rights Enforcement Regs [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges Fear Federal Grad-Loan Caps Will Hurt Enrollment. These State Groups Are Trying to Help. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Florida’s Stop WOKE act struck down for colleges on appeal [Higher Ed Dive]

Some Colleges Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27 [Inside Higher Ed]

Comments Flood OMB Proposal to Cement Political Control of Grants [Inside Higher Ed]

Nursing and other degree programs now qualify for higher student loans [The Washington Post]

Colleges Shift Academic Offerings to Support Sports Industry Boom [Inside Higher Ed]

The Ivy League Cheating Scandal No One Wants to Talk About [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Colleges Serving More Autistic Students Than They Realize, Researchers Say [Inside Higher Ed]

NCAA president sees path forward for reform legislation [POLITICO]

In Final Earnings Test, Some Religious Colleges Get Reprieve, but Concerns Remain [Inside Higher Ed]

Florida state board bans undocumented students from college system [Higher Ed Dive]

‘Professional degree’ list is expanded. But education still didn’t make the cut. [Higher Ed Dive]

6 HBCUs Launch Course-Sharing Partnership [Inside Higher Ed]

Professor fired over Charlie Kirk post could receive $1.9M in settlement [The Hill]

New AI Agents Pose ‘Existential Threat’ to How Grants Are Awarded [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
July 15: Full Committee Executive Session to consider the nominations of Brett Matsumoto, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor; James Macy, of Wisconsin, and David M. Prouty, of Maryland, each to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board; and Michael McDonald, of the District of Columbia, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
430 Dirksen or via webcast.
9:45 a.m. ET

July 14: Full Committee Hearing on “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools”
Witnesses: TBD
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray, Kaptur Call on OMB to Rescind Proposed Rule That Would Politicize DOE Grants, Scare Off Private Investment

House Committee on Appropriations
July 14: Subcommittee Hearing on Oversight of the U.S. Small Business Administration
Witnesses: The Honorable Kelly Loeffler, Administrator, Small Business Administration
2359 Rayburn and via webcast.
2:00 p.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Condemns Rescission of Affirmative Action Guidance

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Sen. Collins Asks OMB to Withdraw Parts of Grant Rule, Extend Comment Period

House Committee and Ways and Means
Press Release: Five Key Moments: Hearing on the Growing Business of Sports

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer, Senators Peters, Murray, & Merkley Lead Senate Democrats In Demanding OMB Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power To Politicize Federal Grants

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray, Peters, Schumer, & Merkley Lead All Senate Democrats in Demanding OMB Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power to Politicize Federal Grants

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: America 250: Honoring Our Past. Investing in Our Future

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Peters, Schumer, Murray & Merkley Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding OMB Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power to Politicize Federal Grants

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chair Walberg-Requested IG Investigation Finds Biden-Harris DOL Failed to Safeguard Confidential Information

House Committee on Small Business
Statements and Webcast from July 1 Full Committee Hearing on “250 Years of American Legacy: Small Businesses and the American Dream.”

Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Democrats Fought Against Historic Tax Cuts. Now They’re Fighting Against Opportunity for America’s Kids.

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards $162M to expand Registered Apprenticeship through performance-based incentives in key industry sectors

GAO Report: Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Education

White House Press Release: One Year Later: President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Are Delivering for American Workers

ED Press Release: Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration is Making Higher Education More Affordable, Expanding Opportunity, and Simplifying Student Loan Repayment

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Marks End of Second Annual Title IX Month with Major Enforcement Recap

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.9596— To remove educational barriers to Federal employment for workers who are skilled through alternative routes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Krishnamoorthi, Raja [Rep.-D-IL-8] (Introduced 07/06/2026) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 07/06/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

H.R.7893 — FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act
Sponsor: Walberg, Tim [Rep.-R-MI-5] (Introduced 03/12/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 07/02/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 635.

H.R.7894 — Truman Scholarship Clean House Act
Sponsor: Stefanik, Elise M. [Rep.-R-NY-21] (Introduced 03/12/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 07/02/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 633.

H.R.9580 — To repeal the 90/10 rule as it pertains to proprietary schools under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Harris, Mark [Rep.-R-NC-8] (Introduced 07/02/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 07/02/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Harris Introduces PARITY Act to End Double Standard Against Career Schools

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Income Driven Repayment Plan Request for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan Programs. Comments due on or before August 7, 2026.

ED Comment Request: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Repayment Plan Selection Form. Comments due on or before August 7, 2026.

ED Notice: Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures; Correction

DOL Final Rule: Rescinding Portions of Department of Labor Title VI Regulations

OPM Comment Request: Initial Certification of Full-Time School Attendance, RI 25-41, 3206-0099. Comments due on or before August 3, 2026.

VA Comment Request: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions. Comments due on or before August 31, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.