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) released a Frequently Asked Questions document on Workforce Pell implementation, addressing how workforce programs can establish and maintain eligibility for Federal funding.

ED released the 2025 College Affordability and Transparency Report identifying institutions with the highest tuition and net prices, the largest price increases and institutional explanations for rising college costs.

Inside Higher Ed reported that ED has been awarding grants using a “front-loading” strategy, which fully funds an existing grantee’s multi-year grant cycle with Fiscal Year 2026 funding rather than using future year’s funding to cover continuation awards over time. This has the effect of reducing the number of awards made compared with previous years.

COURTS

A Federal court vacated a district court decision that had ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) subpoena seeking the names and contact information of certain Jewish employees.

A Federal judge dismissed the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit challenging the State of Virginia’s laws allowing certain undocumented students to qualify for in-State tuition, ruling that the statutes were not preempted by Federal law.

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

The GOP Is Going After the ABA. But Why? [Inside Higher Ed]

The Pentagon pushed colleges to cut ties with China. Some pushed back. [The Washington Post]

Higher Ed Groups Raise Concerns About Proposed Census Changes [Inside Higher Ed]

Inside higher ed’s wave of price resets and free tuition models [Higher Ed Dive]

Nearly half of employers say AI will make college degrees more important [Higher Ed Dive]

Court Deems Naturopathic Medicine a Professional Degree for Now [Inside Higher Ed]

U.N.C. Strikes Trump Deal to Keep Federal Funding [The New York Times]

Education Affordability a Priority for Voters [Inside Higher Ed]

Judge Rules Trump’s Anti-DEI Order for Contractors Can Stand, Clarifies Scope [Inside Higher Ed]

Harvard logs $100M surplus despite 20% drop in federal research money [Higher Ed Dive]

Report About FSA’s Future Causes Concern [Inside Higher Ed]

University of Hawai’i system expands direct admissions to all 10 campuses [Higher Ed Dive]

Judge declines to block Trump’s March anti-DEI order for federal contractors [Higher Ed Dive]

A Planned Intellectual Diversity Accreditation Standard Draws Opposition [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump admin reignites court battle over student deportations based on speech [Higher Ed Dive]

Experts say higher education is an industry in turmoil. The collateral damage is widespread [The Hechinger Report]

Congressional Democrats Condemn MSI Funding Transfer [Inside Higher Ed]

How admissions officials are navigating the academic year ahead [Higher Ed Dive]

New Earnings Test Will Have Limited but Concentrated Impact [Inside Higher Ed]
American University Report: “The Limited Impact of New Federal Earnings-Based Accountability Rules”

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Education and Workforce 
Press Release: Scott, Takano Condemn EEOC Abandoning Workers Facing Discrimination

Press Release: ICYMI: The GOP’s Tuition Deflation Act

Press Release: Chair Walberg Presses UCLA, UCSF on Discrimination Following Antisemitism Probe

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray, Baldwin Call on Education Department to Abandon its Latest Tactic to Cut Grant Funding to Communities

Department of Education and the Administration

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards $95.5M in grants to support innovative programs for reskilling, reemploying dislocated workers

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards $81.5M in grants to support industry-driven job training programs in rural communities

GAO Report: 2027-2032 Strategic Plan: Serving Congress and the Nation

ED Comment Request: High School and Beyond 2022 (HS&B:22) High School Transcript Study Data Collection. Comments due on or before December 15, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education. Comments due on or before November 16, 2026.

ETA Comment Request: Job Corps Hall of Fame, Successful Graduate, Rising Star, and Staff Motivator of the Year Program. Comments due on or before December 15, 2026.

DOL Comment Request: Student Experience Assessment of Job Corps Centers. Comments due on or before November 16, 2026.

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.10835 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish demonstration and pilot projects to facilitate education and training programs in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Sponsor: Torres, Norma J. [Rep.-D-CA-35] (Introduced 10/15/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/15/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Representatives Torres and Fleischmann Lead Bipartisan Bill to Build America’s Advanced Manufacturing Workforce

H.R.1190 — Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act
Sponsor: Downing, Troy [Rep.-R-MT-2] (Introduced 02/11/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Financial Services | Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-122
Committee Print: H.Prt. 119-15
Latest Action: Senate – 10/14/2026 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R.5235 — Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025
Sponsor: Mace, Nancy [Rep.-R-SC-1] (Introduced 09/09/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform | Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 10/14/2026 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Annual State Application Under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Act as Amended in 2004. Comments due on or before December 21, 2026.

CNCS Comment Request: NCCC Service Project Application. Comments due on or before December 18, 2026.

OPM and OMB Final Rule: Managing Senior Professional Performance.

OPM Final Rule: Administrative Leave for Workforce Realignment and Other Purposes.

OPM Final Rule: Elimination of Time-in-Grade.

NEA Notice: Arts Advisory Panel Meetings

NEA Notice: National Council on the Arts 219th Meeting

Today’s Federal Register.