Congress was on recess over the holiday break, although there was still significant policy activity late in December. Policymakers are set to return the week of January 5, with important action expected as the continuing resolution (CR) currently funding the federal government expires on January 30. In December, it was reported that policymakers had agreed on top-line figures for the budget overall, but no specific allocations for remaining appropriations bills have been released.  Read more updates below. 

• Henry Mack Confirmed to Top DOL Position: On Dec. 18, the Senate confirmed Henry Mack to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration at the DOL, which oversees implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other federal workforce programs. Mack previously served as a State CTE Director with the Florida Department of Education and in a number of other education- and workforce-related roles.  

• President Trump Signs EO Aimed at Blocking AI Regulations in States: On Dec. 11, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at curtailing states’ abilities to regulate AI with legislation. The EO directs the Attorney General to establish a task force which will challenge state AI laws seen as curbing AI innovation or being burdensome.  

• DOJ Rules that Grants for MSIs are Unconstitutional: On Dec. 2, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel determined that multiple minority serving institution (MSI) grant programs administered by ED are unconstitutional, a position that Secretary of Education Linda McMahan agreed with in a statement on Dec. 19. Affected programs include the Native Hawaiian CTE Grant Program as well as other programs aimed at serving Hispanic, Black, Alaskan, Native American and Asian students. ED has indicated that they are evaluating the potential impact of the opinion on affected programs and will announce future actions at a later date. 

• House Subcommittee Holds Markup on Child Privacy Bills: On December 13, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a markup consisting of 18 bills related to child online safety and privacy. Included in the markup was the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act. The broad goal of the legislation considered was to add more protections for children from social media platforms. The full committee will vote next on these bills before it advances to floor of the House of Representatives. 

• ED Rulemaking Committee on Student Loans to Reconvene: ED’s Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee will meet for the second time the week of January 5 to discuss implementation of student loan provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Last month, the committee met and agreed on numerous rules for Workforce Pell implementation. 

• DOL Announces Funding for Occupational Skills Training Programs: On Dec. 30, the DOL announced the availability of $98 million in grants for pre-apprenticeship programs in high-demand fields through the Department’s YouthBuild Program. The grants aim to provide youth aged 16-24 with academic and occupational skills training, with a focus on communities where many youth do not participate in the workforce. Grant applicants must indicate how they plan on incorporating AI-related skills into their programming. 

• Wage Garnishment to Resume for Defaulted Student Loan Borrowers: On Dec. 23, the Trump Administration indicated that it will resume garnishing the wages of defaulted student loan borrowers in early 2026. The Department said it would send notices to about 1,000 borrowers the week of January 7, with more notices to be sent out in the following months.  

• DOL Launches the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Fund: On Dec. 19, the DOL announced the launch of the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Fund, through a partnership with Arkansas, to develop and expand advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs across the nation. The $36 million program will award eligible employers $3,500 for each new apprentice hired. The application portal will open on January 28, with more details to come. 

• Federal Judge Rules ED Must Reinstate Mental Health Grants: On Dec. 19, a federal judge ruled that ED must reinstate mental health grants to 16 states that were canceled in April of last year. The grant programs—which were established in 2018 to combat school violence and youth mental health issues—were originally canceled by the Administration for conflicting with other priorities. 

• President Trump Signs the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act: On Dec. 18, President Trump signed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes funding under the Secure Rural Schools Program—which provides funding for schools in counties with large amounts of tax-exempt federal land—through FY 26.