Congress is nearing the end of summer recess with the end of August approaching! The House and Senate will return to in-session activities on September 2, focusing on appropriations work in advance of the end of the fiscal year. In the Administration, the Department of Education (ED) issued new regulations for loan forgiveness eligibility under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), took steps to maintain existing CTE reporting requirements, and certified the 2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) launch. Secretary McMahan also spoke on CTE. Keep reading below for more updates from the past two weeks, and stay tuned for more as Congress returns! 

• ED Issues New Rules for Student Loan Forgiveness Under PSLF: ED released a memo with updated regulations on eligibility for loan forgiveness under PSLF. The proposed revision will allow denial of loan forgiveness if the borrower works for an employer “deemed to have a substantial illegal purpose.”  Individuals in CTE-related public service should continue to monitor employer eligibility for PSLF updates. A final rule is expected by November 1. 

• ED Issues Plans to Maintain Existing Perkins Data-reporting Requirements: ED issued the second notice of revised rules that propose to eliminate the expanded reporting requirements authorized in December 2024 by the Biden Administration that would have required states to track additional CTE performance metrics. The new documents would largely revert back to existing requirements, a move ACTE has long supported.  

• Cabinet Meeting Highlights CTE: During President Trump’s August cabinet meeting, Secretary McMahon highlighted multiple states for expanding CTE in middle school career pathways and enhancing high school dual-credit opportunities. Watch the remarks here.  

• ED Confirms 2026-2027 FAFSA Launch: Secretary McMahon certified to Congress that the FAFSA form will be available by October 1, meeting the statutory deadline requirements. ED conducted beta testing this summer with educational institutions and students to ensure successful operations before the form launches. Read more about it here. 

• Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) Introduce Fusion Workforce Act: Rep. Lofgren and Rep. Obernolte introduced a bill to create a national Fusion Workforce Hub at the National Science Foundation (NSF), which aims to promote CTE in fusion science and technology through curriculum development, career readiness resources, and expanding research opportunities.