Over the last two weeks there has been a significant amount of federal policy activity. The Senate continued its confirmation process for President Trump’s cabinet nominations, including nominees for Education and Labor Secretaries, and both chambers began their work on the budget reconciliation process. Meanwhile, the Department of Education continued to implement policy changes, including updates to Perkins reporting requirements, Title IX guidelines and COVID-19 funding. The Department has also announced cancellations of several grant programs, including teacher training grants and research contracts. Keep reading for more details. 

• Department of Education Announces Plans to Reinstate Existing Perkins Requirements: On February 10, the Department of Education announced that it would be reversing a series of proposed changes to the Perkins State Plan Guide and Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) tool that states use to submit Perkins performance data to them. Read more on the blog! 

• Department of Education Announces Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Career and Technical Education: The Department of Education announced several new sub-cabinet nominations. Kevin O’Farrell was nominated for Assistant Secretary for Career and Technical Education. O’Farrell is currently the Chancellor for the Division of Career and Adult Education in Florida’s Department of Education and is the state director for CTE there. Read ACTE’s statement. 

• Trump Administration Cancels Nearly $900M in IES Contracts: The Trump Administration canceled nearly $900 million in contracts within the Institute of Education Sciences, impacting funding to a wide variety of research projects, including many focused on CTE.  

• Department of Education Cancels Grant Programs: The Department of Education Announces funding cuts and cancellations for several programs, including grants awarded under the Comprehensive Centers Program, grants to train teachers and education agencies and grants to several Regional Educational Laboratories and Equity Assistance Centers. 

• Department of Education Announces Guidance Updates for COVID-19 Funding: The Department of Education announced changes to how remaining COVID-19 relief can be claimed. States will now have to spend the money and submit their receipts for reimbursement.  

• Committee for Education Funding (CEF) Letter to Congress: CEF sent a letter to Congress objecting to the Administration’s actions to withhold funding. The letter, sent on behalf of their members including ACTE, urges Congress to insist that the Administration implement Congress’s laws requiring investments in education.  

• House and Senate Move Forward with Budget Reconciliation: Both the House and Senate have made progress on their respective budget resolutions, which outline the spending and revenue changes that they hope to achieve through the budget reconciliation process. Read more on the blog.  

• Senate Committee Considers Nominee for Education Secretary: Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Feb. 13. On Feb. 20, the committee voted to advance her nomination to the Senate floor for a full vote to confirm her nomination. For more information on her policy platform, check out the blog! 

• Senate Hearing with Nominee for Labor Secretary: Lori Chavez-DeRemer testified before the Senate HELP Committee on Feb. 19, following her nomination to Secretary of Labor. Chavez-DeRemer previously served in the House of Representatives. On Thursday, Feb. 27, the committee will hold a vote to consider her nomination. If Chavez-DeRemer advances through the committee, there will be a full Senate vote to confirm her nomination. 

• House Appropriators Hold Hearing on Career Readiness: On Feb. 12, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing that focused on the role of community colleges in workforce development. The hearing underscored the significance of community colleges in equipping individuals with skills that drive economic mobility. Read more on the blog! 

• House Education and Workforce Committee Announces Hearing on America’s Workforce and Economy: The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on February 26, “Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening our Economy.” ACTE will share any relevant updates from the hearing! 

• Senate HELP Committee Leadership Announces Subcommittee Assignments: The Senate HELP Committee announced the member subcommittee assignments for the 119th Congress. Subcommittees include Education and the American Family,  Employment and Workplace Safety, and Primary Health and Retirement Security.  

• Department of Education Issues OCR Guidance: On Feb. 14, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague letter to states and postsecondary institutions related to the use of race and ethnicity in educational activities. The letter takes a wide view of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), suggesting it will be used as a framework to evaluate other education activities and potentially withhold funding.