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

CONGRESS

The Federal government remains in a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations into fiscal year 2026.

ADMINISTRATION

Following the Administration’s initiation of a reduction-in-force (RIF) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) last week, ED has informed Congress that the layoffs affected 64 staff from the Office of Postsecondary Education, 137 from the Office for Civil Rights, 4 from the Office of the Secretary, 7 from the Office of Communications and Outreach, 132 from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and 121 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

The Trump Administration extended the invitation to sign onto the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to all colleges and universities.

COURTS

A district court judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt further implementation of RIFs during or because of the shutdown.

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

Advocates cheer as Trump admin agrees to student loan forgiveness deal [The Hill]

‘Because I Said So’: Universities Double Down on Unwritten Policies [Inside Higher Ed]

Tracking the Trump administration’s deals with colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

How Will ED’s Latest Layoffs Affect Students With Disabilities? [Inside Higher Ed]

Here are the colleges rejecting Trump’s funding compact [The Hill]

Trump Gutted the Institute of Education Sciences. Its Renewal Is in Doubt. [Inside Higher Ed]

US Chamber sues White House to block ‘plainly unlawful’ H-1B visa fee [Higher Ed Dive]

The 2026-27 FAFSA application is live. Here’s what to know [Los Angeles Times]

Trump moves closer to eliminating Education Department amid shutdown [The Washington Post]

Abbott: ‘Texas is targeting professors’ over ‘leftist ideologies’ [The Hill]

Giving Credit Where It’s Overdue [Inside Higher Ed]

Indiana University fires student newspaper advisor who refused to block news stories [The Los Angeles Times]

Penn, USC join growing list of universities declining Trump’s federal funding deal [POLITICO]

Universities Are Standing Up to Trump [The New York Times]

Higher ed groups blast Trump plan to expand applicant data collection [Higher Ed Dive]

Report: College Has a Positive ROI for Most, but Outcomes Vary Widely [Inside Higher Ed]
Strada Foundation Report: “State Opportunity Index”

Harvard posts biggest operating loss in 14 years as Trump cuts bite [Axios]

Colleges Push Back Against Trump’s Effort to Collect More Admissions Data [Inside Higher Ed]

Brown U.’s President Declines Trump’s Compact, Saying It Would ‘Undermine’ the Institution [The Chronicle]

Judge Halts UT’s Comprehensive Ban on Student Speech [Inside Higher Ed]

Newsom vetoes bill allowing preference in college admissions for descendants of slaves [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Fox Business: Schumer, Democrats are Keeping the Government Closed Because They’re Afraid of Their Far-Left Base

Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 21 of the Democrat Shutdown: Do Not Be Distracted, The American People Would Have an Open Government if Democrats Weren’t Afraid of Their Far-Left Base

Press Release: Now That Democrats Have Had Their Protest Against America, Will Five More Senate Democrats Finally Vote to End their Shutdown?

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise on Democrats Prioritizing the Far-Left and Fundraising While Keeping the Government Shut Down: It’s Disgusting

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Republicans Would Rather Keep the Government Shut Down Than Provide Affordable Healthcare”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune to Senate Democrats: Time to Stop the Political Theater and Reopen the Government

Press Release: Thune: Republicans Want to Reopen the Government, Get Back to Work for the American People

Press Release: Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 21

Press Release: Democrats’ Government Shutdown Drags On

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune to Senate Democrats: Time to Stop the Political Theater and Reopen the Government

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on Republicans Ignoring the Healthcare Needs of Americans While Donald Trump Renovates the WH Ballroom, Bails Out Argentina, and Celebrates Shutdown with Republicans at Rose Garden

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Raises Concern over NCAA Eligibility Rules, Fairness for American Student-Athletes

October 22: Full Committee Hearing: Labor Law Reform Part 2: New Solutions for Finding a Pro-Worker Way Forward
Witnesses: Mr. Thomas Beck, Senior Advisor, Littler Mendelson Workplace Policy Institute, Nashville, TN; Mr. Vincent Vernuccio, President, Institute for the American Worker, Hamilton, VA; Mr. Jonathan Hartley, Ph.D Candidate, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Mr. Joshua Arnold, Shop Steward, IAM Union Local 837B, St. Louis, MO; Ms. Mary Turner, President, National Nurses United, Plymouth, MN
Dirksen 430 and via webcast
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Democratic Committee Leaders Condemn Trump Administration’s Illegal Mass Firings of Federal Workers During Shutdown

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Republican Shutdown Day 21: Senator Murray Calls on President Trump, Republicans to Stop Wasting Time, Finally Come to the Table to Reopen Government and Prevent Health Care Cost Crisis

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Former College, Pro Players Warn SCORE Act Will Hurt College Sports’ Most Valuable Assets: Athletes

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: Ranking Member Lofgren Commends University Leaders Rejection of Trump Attempt to Control and Intimidate Academia through Compact Agreement

Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
Press Release: Klobuchar and Colleagues Release Report on Vote Counting Process for the November Election

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Democratic Committee Leaders Condemn Trump Administration’s Illegal Mass Firings of Federal Workers During Shutdown

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 20 of the Democrat Shutdown: Democrats Have Satisfied the Radicals, Now They Must End the Shutdown and Vote to Reopen the Government

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Every Day that Passes by Without Action, the Republican Healthcare Crisis Gets Even Worse”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 20

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Americans In All 50 States Brace For Massive Increase In Health Insurance Costs As Republicans Continue To Refuse to Address Crisis

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 17 of the Democrat Shutdown: Democrats’ True Colors Will Be on Display at the “Hate America” Rally This Weekend

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise: Hardworking Americans Paying the Price for Schumer’s Shutdown

Press Release: Scalise: Democrats cheer ‘No Kings’ protests, but let shutdown devastate families

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on ABC: “Republicans Care More About George Santos than Providing Healthcare to Everyday Americans”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: Leader Schumer Joins Dr. Mike On “The Checkup” Podcast To Discuss Rising Healthcare Costs And The Republican Shutdown

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Extended Shutdown Threatens Appropriations Conference Work on Full-Year Funding Bills

House Budget Committee
Press Release: Chairman Arrington Statement on CBO Letter Confirming Government Shutdown Will Harm the Economy

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: Ranking Members Lofgren and Stevens Demand NSF Reverse Cruel Changes to the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Warren Calls for Trump Administration to Release Critical September Employment Data Before Fed Meets to Set Monetary Policy Affecting All Americans

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Forum on the Trump Administration’s Ongoing Attacks on the Disability Community

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Statement on Federal Judge Temporarily Blocking President Trump and Russ Vought’s Illegal Attempt to Fire Federal Workers

Speaker of the House
Press Release: America’s Split Screen: President Trump and the Republican Congress Are Delivering Results While Democrats Shut Down the Government

Press Release: Speaker Johnson on Day 15 of the Democrat Shutdown: Republicans Want to Pay U.S. Troops, Democrats Want to Use Them as Hostages

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on CNN: “The American People Clearly Know Who Shut the Government Down”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Republicans Have Shut the Government Down Because of Their Unwillingness to Provide Healthcare to Everyday Americans”

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise: Democrats’ Shutdown Causing Real Harm for Real Americans

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “We Are Witnessing an All-Out Republican Assault on the Healthcare of the American People”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 15

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Proclamation: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 2025

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5801 — To appropriate funds for pay and allowances of excepted Federal employees for periods of work performed during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Johnson, Dusty [Rep.-R-SD-At Large] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
Press Release: Johnson, Mackenzie Lead Effort to Pay Troops, Federal Employees During Government Shutdowns

H.R.5802 — To provide for the payment of certain Federal Government employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations and to withhold the payment of salaries to Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President during a Government shutdown, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Larson, John B. [Rep.-D-CT-1] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.
Press Release: Larson Introduces “Make America Govern Again” Act to Pay Federal Workers and Block Members of Congress and Trump Officials from Taking Checks During Shutdown

H.R.5806 — To direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible applicants to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Smith, Adam [Rep.-D-WA-9] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.5807 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a fund to provide support services for individuals participating in certain training activities under such Act.
Sponsor: Smith, Adam [Rep.-D-WA-9] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.Res.825 — Of inquiry requesting the President to transmit certain information to the House of Representatives referring to United States Government agencies sharing certain communications with the public and Federal employees.
Sponsor: Mfume, Kweisi [Rep.-D-MD-7] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Press Release: Congressman Mfume Introduced Resolution of Inquiry into Trump Administration’s Partisan Messaging on Government Shutdown

H.Res.826 — Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 20 to October 24, 2025, as “Careers in Energy Week”.
Sponsor: Thompson, Glenn [Rep.-R-PA-15] (Introduced 10/21/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means | Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 10/20/2025 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions)

H.R.5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means | Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 10/20/2025 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions)

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 – 10/16/2025 Sixth cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

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 – 10/15/2025 Upon reconsideration, the third cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 – 44.

S.3010 — A bill to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve provisions relating to dyslexia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA] (Introduced 10/15/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/15/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)

S.3012 — 119th Congress (2025-2026)
A bill to appropriate funds for pay and allowances of excepted Federal employees for periods of work performed during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Johnson, Ron [Sen.-R-WI] (Introduced 10/15/2025) Cosponsors: (7)
Latest Action: Senate – 10/15/2025 Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

We expect submission deadlines to remain the same, notwithstanding the government shutdown.

ED Notice: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI); Notice of Meeting

Presidential Document: Ensuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring

Today’s Federal Register.