RAMC Washington Wrap Up – October 2, 2026

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) redirected mandatory funding from Minority Serving Institution (MSI) grant programs to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) voted to offer no official recommendation to ED regarding the renewal of the American Bar Association (ABA) Accreditation Council’s Federal recognition as an accreditor of law schools. NACIQI also voted to recommend suspending accreditation recognition for 12 months for the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation as well as the renewal of accreditation recognition for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

ED launched the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2027-28 award year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the White House that 100,000 American students would be invited to China for academic opportunities over the next five years.

ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the transition to a new servicer for the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

CONGRESS

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a markup of S.4428, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026. Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) withdrew the bill from consideration before a final vote was taken.

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

How Trump’s Pocket Rescissions Could Affect Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

How Trump’s Admissions-Data Push Burdened Colleges [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Senate Signs Off on College Sports Overhaul [Inside Higher Ed]

Student loan borrowers get more time to enroll in autopay for a debt discount [The Washington Post]

Education Department formally rescinds Title IX protections for LGBTQ students [The Hill]

White House Moves to Cancel Nearly All Funding for Key International-Education Grants [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Career Prep When No One Knows What’s Next [Inside Higher Ed]

Is AI killing jobs for college grads? Not yet, new study says. [The Washington Post]
CESifo Report: “The Early Impacts of AI on Employment Among Recent College Graduates”

White House Tries to Cancel Millions for International Ed Programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Nowhere to turn: Many grad students in health care fields can’t get loans for their degrees [The Hechinger Report]

2 Years After Encampments, Colleges Revisit Protest Policies [Inside Higher Ed]

California Is Expanding Community-College Bachelor’s Degrees. Is Anyone Happy? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Students sue Education Dept., claiming it reported $4.6B in canceled loans as debt [The Washington Post]

ED Accreditation Committee Recommends Suspending APA [Inside Higher Ed]

Major public universities report hits to international enrollment [Higher Ed Dive]

Higher Ed Groups Bash ED Proposal to Allow More Grant Terminations [Inside Higher Ed]

DOJ accuses UC San Francisco medical school of racial discrimination in admissions [Higher Ed Dive]

Accreditor Panel Tables Vote on ABA Recognition [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department announces earliest FAFSA launch in program history [The Hill]

When Nontraditional Students Become the Norm [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy Secures Key Amendments in Protect College Sports Act, Empowers Student-Athletes to Succeed

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: NEW: Government Watchdog Finds Trump Administration Stopped Collecting Important Data on Child Labor, Enforcement Less Effective

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray on GAO Concluding Trump’s Pocket Rescission is Illegal

Press Release: Murray Calls Out Republicans’ Failure to Defend Funding for Families & Congress’ Power of the Purse

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Government Watchdog Finds Trump Pocket Rescissions Violate Impoundment Control Act

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Merkley Applauds GAO for Reaffirming that Trump’s Pocket Rescissions Are Illegal

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement After Nonpartisan GAO Confirms Trump’s Pocket Rescission Is Illegal

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Chairman Smith Announces Field Hearing on The One, Big, Beautiful, Bill Delivering for Small Business, Manufacturing, and Working Families – Collierville, TN

October 6: Full Committee Field Hearing on “The One, Big, Beautiful, Bill Delivering for Small Business, Manufacturing, and Working Families”
Witnesses: TBD
Orgill Innovation Center in Collierville, TN and via webcast.
9:00 a.m. CT

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg Applauds Return to Clear, Fair Title IX Standards

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Press Release: Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Protect College Sports Act

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Denounces Trump Administration’s Illegal Pocket Recissions

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Reed, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing September 2026 as National Literacy Month

Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce National Hazing Awareness Week Resolution

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on HBCU, TCU, and MSI Funding

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray Slams Trump for Illegal Impoundment

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Trump Administration’s “Pocket Rescissions” are Illegal

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Merkley Condemns More Pocket Rescissions by Trump Administration

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on Trump Administration’s Pocket Rescission

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: POSTPONED: Senate HELP Committee to Consider Trump Nominees

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Blog: What Are Colleges Hiding About Foreign Money?

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Urges Education Department to Withdraw Proposed Grant Rule

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
September 24: Full Committee Markup on “Nominations and S. 4428, No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026”
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: NEW: Trump Vanity Projects Slated to Cost $1.8+ Billion; Committee Tool Shows Alternative Uses to Deliver for the American People

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Murray on Trump Admin Scrapping Plans for Executive Order to Empower Russ Vought to Kill NIH Research

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: ICYMI: Protect College Sports Act Earns Support from Students, Coaches, ADs, Professors, University Presidents

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Extends Enrollment Period for Student Loan Interest Rate Reduction

White House Press Release: President Trump Calls on Congress to Save College Sports

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Approves Workforce Pell Grant Programs in Florida

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Formally Rescinds the Biden Administration’s Illegal Title IX Rewrite, Reinstating the 2020 Regulation

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Approves Workforce Pell Grant Programs in North Carolina

ED Blog: The 2027–28 FAFSA® Form Is Here: An Earlier Start for Students and Families

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Earliest FAFSA Launch in Program History for the Second Consecutive Year

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards $65M to develop, expand access to training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.5573 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide that educational programs classified as Theology and Religious Vocations or Philosophy and Religious Studies at educational institutions that qualify for the religious exemption under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 are not subject to ineligibility for title IV assistance based on low earning outcomes.
Sponsor: Lankford, James [Sen.-R-OK] (Introduced 09/29/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Lankford, Cruz Introduce Bill to Protect Students Pursuing Ministry From Losing Federal Student Aid

S.5579 — A bill to authorize a grant program for educational institutions to analyze, digitize, and map historic records relating to housing information, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Smith, Tina [Sen.-D-MN] (Introduced 09/29/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Press Release: U.S. Senator Tina Smith Reintroduces Bill to Help College Students Facing Emergencies Afford to Stay in School

S.5582 — A bill to reauthorize and improve a grant program to assist institutions of higher education in establishing, maintaining, improving, and operating Student Veteran Centers.
Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV] (Introduced 09/29/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

S.Res.926 — A resolution designating September 2026 as “National Literacy Month”.
Sponsor: Reed, Jack [Sen.-D-RI] (Introduced 09/29/2026) Cosponsors: (17)
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2026 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

H.R.10560 — To amend the National Apprenticeship Act to require sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs to employ a certain amount of journeyworkers.
Sponsor: James, John [Rep.-R-MI-10] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/24/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.10561 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to address the economic and workforce impacts of substance use disorder.
Sponsor: Jayapal, Pramila [Rep.-D-WA-7] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/24/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.10562 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make for-profit institutions ineligible for Federal student aid and to protect the integrity of nonprofit institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Jayapal, Pramila [Rep.-D-WA-7] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/24/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Jayapal Introduces the Students Not Profits Act

H.R.10578 — To authorize certain labor market data collection activities and to improve Federal measurement of the workforce impacts of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Min, Dave [Rep.-D-CA-47] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 09/24/2026 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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…

H.R.10612 — To provide for the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Torres, Norma J. [Rep.-D-CA-35] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/24/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Congresswoman Torres and Senator Padilla Introduce BASIC Act to Ensure No Student Has to Choose Between College and Basic Needs

S.4668 — Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX] (Introduced 06/02/2026) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 The committee substitute withdrawn by Voice Vote.

S.5504 — A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program on Department of Defense partnerships with institutions of higher education recognized in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program for Cyber Research, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Armed Services
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.5506 — A bill to authorize Secretary of Labor to develop a comprehensive Federal Talent Strategy.
Sponsor: Blunt Rochester, Lisa [Sen.-D-DE] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Budd Introduce Legislation to Bolster America’s Talent Pipeline, Workforce

S.5524 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to address the economic and workforce impacts of substance use disorder.
Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.5540 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for teacher and school leader quality enhancement and to enhance institutional aid.
Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.5559 — A bill to provide for the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Padilla, Alex [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Padilla, Warren, Torres Introduce Bill to Address Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education

S.5566 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish a Public Service Educational Assistance Program to provide educational assistance to the dependents of public service employees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ] (Introduced 09/24/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 09/24/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Booker, Figures, Hayes, Ezell Introduce Bill to Cover College Costs for Children of Longtime Educators, First Responders, and Social Workers

S.Res.863 — A resolution expressing support for designation of the week of September 13 through 19, 2026, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.
Sponsor: Reed, Jack [Sen.-D-RI] (Introduced 09/17/2026) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/23/2026 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Final Rule: Recodification of Title IX Rules.

ED Comment Request: Campus Safety and Security Survey. Comments due on or before October 26, 2026.

ED Comment Request: eZ-Audit: Electronic Submission of Financial Statements and Compliance Audits. Comments due on or before October 26, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information. Comments due on or before October 26, 2026.

VA Comment Request: IBM SkillsBuild Training Program Intake Application. Comments due on or before October 26, 2026

Today’s Federal Register.