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

CONGRESS

The Senate voted 53 to 43 to confirm 97 subcabinet nominations, including Henry Mack as the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor and Mary Anne Carter as the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Senate and House completed their legislative activity for 2025 and will reconvene for legislative business on January 5 and 6, respectively.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that more than 5 million 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms have been submitted, citing this as a 150 percent increase in the number of applications submitted at this time last year.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum opinion on the constitutionality of race-based ED programs. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon released a related statement.

COURTS

A district court judge granted a motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining further reductions-in-force (RIFs) by the Administration and requiring the RIF notices for the employees who were terminated between October 1, 2025, and November 12, 2025, to be rescinded. This order follows actions by the Office of Management and Budget that the judge has found in violation of the previous injunction issued by the court.

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

Brown’s security draws Education Department investigation after shooting [The Hill]

Federal student loans are changing. Here’s what to expect in 2026 [NPR]

DOJ Report Declares MSIs Unconstitutional [Inside Higher Ed]

Wage garnishment for defaulted student loans to resume early next year [The Washington Post]

Why California colleges can no longer withhold transcripts over unpaid fees [The Los Angeles Times]

The Year That Changed Research [Inside Higher Ed]

These Rising Costs Are Squeezing College Budgets [Inside Higher Ed]

Community colleges are training the next generation of manufacturing workers [Higher Ed Dive]

What college affordability debates get wrong on the returns to college [Brookings]

Trump expands travel bans and restrictions to 39 countries [Higher Ed Dive]

Safeguarding the Integrity of College Sport [Inside Higher Ed]

Lawmakers say advanced nursing should count as a ‘professional degree’ [Higher Ed Dive]

Faculty Want Answers on Oklahoma’s Suspension Policies [Inside Higher Ed]

Judge rules layoffs likely violated shutdown funding deal [The Hill]

AFT Pushes Back on Slow Loan Repayment Processing [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump Administration to Appeal Harvard Funding Case [The New York Times]

AAUP Raises Alarm Over Palantir’s Work for Ed Department [Inside Higher Ed]

Suspect in Brown University and M.I.T. Professor Shootings Is Found Dead [The New York Times]

What do college-bound students think of DEI efforts? [Higher Ed Dive] Art & Science Group Report: “College-Bound Students on DEI: Values, Expectations, and Beliefs”

How education changed in one year under Trump [The Hechinger Report]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: FACT SHEET: GOP Proposals in Remaining 9 Funding Bills Fail to Address Cost of Living, Make Communities Less Safe, Permit Continued Corruption

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Slams Labor Union for Promoting Antisemitism in Children’s Classrooms, Ostracizing Jewish Members

Press Release: Chair Cassidy, Senate Republicans Continue to Deliver President Trump’s Agenda, Confirm Nearly 100 Trump Nominees

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg Investigates NCAA Efforts to Relax Student-Athlete Gambling Restrictions and Warns of Potential Misuse of Federal Student Aid

Press Release: Chairman Walberg on Trump Administration’s Decision to End Unconstitutional Race-Based Funding in Higher Ed

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Education Department Ending Funding for Minority Serving Institutions

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Cole, Collins Deliver Bicameral Agreement on FY26 Funding Allocations

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune on Senate Republicans’ Record-Breaking Year

Press Release: The Senate Republican Majority Delivers Historic Year of Accomplishments

Press Release: The Senate Just Confirmed a Batch of 97 Nominations, Capping Off a Historic Year

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on the Need for a Bipartisan Appropriations Process

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on President Trump’s Year-End Speech and Calling Him Out on His Broken Promises

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Scott, Senate Republicans Continue Confirming Trump Administration Nominees at Record Pace

House Majority Leader
Press Release: The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Chairman Cruz: U.S. Must Remain Leader in Next Generation Communications

Press Release: Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Hearing with FCC Chair Carr

Press Release: Sen. Cantwell: Brendan Carr’s FCC is Hurting Consumers, Doing Nothing about Rising Costs for TV, Cellphone and Broadband Services

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Review of Brown University for Potential Clery Act Violations

IES Blog: Developing a Training Model for District School Climate Data Analysis in Georgia

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Statement on the Office of Legal Counsel’s Opinion on the Constitutionality of Race-Based Higher Education Grant Programs

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces launch of American Manufacturing Apprenticeship fund, designed to support, expand registered apprenticeships

DOL Press Release: US departments of Labor, Agriculture announce effort to streamline job opportunities and training for SNAP participants

White House Press Release: President Trump Highlights America’s Historic Comeback in Year-End Address

White House Press Release: Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025

White House Press Release: Congressional Bills S. 2283 AND S. 356 Signed into Law

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Reaches Historic Milestone in FAFSA Completions

HHS Press Release: HHS Creates Fellowship and Career Fairs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

GAO Report: Public Libraries: Many Buildings Are Reported to Be in Poor Condition, with Increasing Deferred Maintenance

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.4540 — Military Family GI Bill Promise Act
Sponsor: Vindman, Eugene Simon [Rep.-D-VA-7] (Introduced 07/17/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 12/19/2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.4594 — Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025
Sponsor: Goodlander, Maggie [Rep.-D-NH-2] (Introduced 07/22/2025) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 12/19/2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.5388 — American Artificial Intelligence Leadership and Uniformity Act
Sponsor: Baumgartner, Michael [Rep.-R-WA-5] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology; Foreign Affairs; Armed Services; Homeland Security; Oversight and Government Reform; Judiciary; Energy and Commerce; Small Business; Education and Workforce; Financial Services; Veterans’ Affairs; Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 12/19/2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

H.Res.969 — Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on September 8, 2025, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”.
Sponsor: Castro, Joaquin [Rep.-D-TX-20] (Introduced 12/19/2025) Cosponsors: (53)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/19/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Castro, Ciscomani, Espaillat Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Honor Hispanic-Serving

H.R.4054 — Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act
Sponsor: Fine, Randy [Rep.-R-FL-6] (Introduced 06/20/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 360.

H.R.6857 — To require institutions of higher education participating in Federal student aid programs to share information about title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including a link to the webpage of the Office for Civil Rights where an individual can submit a complaint regarding discrimination in violation of such title, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Frankel, Lois [Rep.-D-FL-22] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Frankel Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses

H.R.6860 — To amend the General Education Provisions Act to provide a private right of action to parents and eligible students to protect certain education-related rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hageman, Harriet M. [Rep.-R-WY-At Large] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Congresswoman Harriet Hageman Introduces Bill to Strengthen Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency

H.R.6862 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to delay, until July 1, 2030, the termination of authority to award certain Federal Direct PLUS loans and the implementation of limits on certain loans for graduate and professional students enrolled at institutions with certain public health designations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Harder, Josh [Rep.-D-CA-9] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.6865 — To amend section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to prohibit the provision of Federal financial assistance to States and public institutions of higher education that provide certain higher education benefits to aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hunt, Wesley [Rep.-R-TX-38] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Workforce; Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and 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.
Press Release: Congressman Wesley Hunt Introduces the American Dream Protection Act of 2025

H.R.6880 — To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations.
Sponsor: Meng, Grace [Rep.-D-NY-6] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.3565 — A bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the use of remaining funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program for competitive subgrants to support the success of the broadband deployment projects funded by that program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Wicker, Roger F. [Sen.-R-MS] (Introduced 12/18/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 12/18/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Wicker, Capito Introduce the SUCCESS for BEAD Act

H.R.6806 — Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025
Sponsor: Nadler, Jerrold [Rep.-D-NY-12] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Workforce; Homeland Security; Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 12/17/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Homeland Security, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: Nadler, DeLauro, Balint, Frost Introduce Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act

H.R.6809 — To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reduce losses of life through better school safety standards and responses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Owens, Burgess [Rep.-R-UT-4] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Judiciary; Homeland Security; Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 12/17/2025 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and 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.

H.R.6819 — To reduce State administrative costs for administration of both the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the summer electronic benefits transfer program for children under the Richard B. Russell School Lunch Act.
Sponsor: Scott, David [Rep.-D-GA-13] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/17/2025 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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: Reps. David Scott and Lucy McBath Introduce a Bill to Cut State Costs and Ensure Children Don’t Go Hungry During Summer

H.Res.958 — Supporting the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the enactment of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to expanding access to higher education for all Americans.
Sponsor: Wilson, Frederica S. [Rep.-D-FL-24] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 12/17/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.3538 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate origination fees on Federal Direct loans.
Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 12/17/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.3557 — A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds to implement the Executive order entitled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence”.
Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 12/17/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Block Trump’s Executive Order Blocking State AI Regulation

S.Res.563 — A resolution affirming that the Federal Government should support school district investment in clean school buses.
Sponsor: Whitehouse, Sheldon [Sen.-D-RI] (Introduced 12/17/2025) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 12/17/2025 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Foreign Schools Eligibility Criteria Apply To Participate in Title IV HEA Programs. Comments due on or before January 22, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Guaranty Agencies Security Self-Assessment and Attestation. Comments due on or before January 22, 2026.

ED Notice: 34 CFR Part 395 Limitation of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program Priority for the Department of the Army

ED Notice: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

ED Comment Request: Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for Institutions and Programs-Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institution and Programs (DAPIP). Comments due on or before February 20, 2026.

ACF Comment Request: COVID-19 Mitigation Policy Requirement in Head Start Programs; Recission. Comments due on or before January 20, 2026.

ACF Notice: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

ED Comment Request: The Recognition Process for Accrediting Agencies, State Approval Agencies; Evaluation of Foreign Medical, and Foreign Veterinary Accrediting Agencies (e-Recognition). Comments due on or before February 17, 2026.

ACF Comment Request: Office of Management and Budget Review Placement and Transfer of Unaccompanied [Alien] Children Into Office of Refugee Resettlement Care Provider Facilities. Comments due on or before January 20, 2026.

ACF Comment Request: Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Innovative Strategies (PREIS) Local Evaluation Support: Final Evaluation Report Template (New Collection). Comments due on or before January 20, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.