Most of the attention on the Hill this week was focused on the major housing affordability bill Congress passed on June 23 that President Trump later indicated he would not sign. The House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup this week, approving 11 bills which ranged from combatting antisemitism to health care and civil rights. The committee also held a hearing on the impact of apprenticeship programs for workers and employers. Read more updates below.  

• House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Full Committee Markup: On June 25, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a full committee markup where they advanced 11 bills.. You can watch a recording of the markup here.   

• House Committee Holds Hearing on Apprenticeships: On June 24, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing titled “Workforce Rewired: Modern Apprenticeships for a Modern Economy..” Lawmakers and witnesses discussed the importance of apprenticeship programs in preparing workers for high-wage, in-demand careers.  

• Judge Rules to Void ED’s Definition of “‘Professional Degree’”: On June 24, a federal judge ruled that ED’s narrowing of the definition of “‘professional degree’,” which was originally defined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was to be voided. The ruling says ED violated Congress’s instructions by adding criteria strictly limiting which degrees qualify for higher federal student loan borrowing caps.   

• FCC Approves Request for Public Comment on E-Rate Reconsideration: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on June 25 to seek public comment on whether the federal E-rate “should be narrowed or reoriented” to meet the goals Congress established 30 years ago for the program that provides discounted internet to schools and libraries. 

• CRS Releases Brief on Workforce Pell: On June 23, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a brief on Workforce Pell Grants, summarizing eligibility requirements and legislative information and comparing Workforce Pell Grants to regular Pell Grants. 

• CTE a Primary Focus in State Strategic Plans: A new analysis from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) found that 43 states focus on postsecondary education and career readiness, including CTE, in their strategic plans for education, the most common goal shared by states. Specific goals states are working on include expanding career and workforce pathways as well as equipping students with durable and career-ready skills.  

• New Tool Examines Wage Outcomes of Certificate Programs: A new tool from the HEA Group and Open Campus explores the wage outcomes for undergraduate certificate programs nationwide. ACTE found that CTE certificates experience some of the strongest returns; interested readers can learn more on the blog. 

• NSCRC Releases New Postsecondary Data: New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) reveals that, of the 2.6 million students who entered college in fall 2024, 77.1% were still enrolled by fall 2025, similar to the previous cohort.  

• OIG Report Finds ED Staffing Cuts Impacted Legal Duties: A report released on June 22 from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that staffing reductions at ED in 2025 appear to have impacted units that were performing legal duties. 

• ED Approves Waiver for Vermont: On June 24, ED approved Vermont’s Returning Education to the States Waiver, allowing it to consolidate over $4 million in federal funds through 2029, which the state can then align with their state-level improvement priorities and strategic plan.  

• President Trump Signs Executive Order on Quantum Innovation: On June 22, President Trump signed an executive order titled, “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation.” The order calls for expanding and retaining the quantum information science and technology (QIST) workforce and requires  the Secretary of Labor to ensure that QIST industry needs are prioritized in workforce training efforts related to Executive Order 14278 of April 23, 2025 (Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future).  

• Congress Members Reintroduce the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026: On June 24, Representatives Pocan (D-WI) and Scott (D-VA) and Senators Hirono (D-HI), Murray (D-WA), Reed (D-RI) and Whitehouse (D-RI) re-introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026. The bill outlines a framework to protect and strengthen the Pell Grant program.  

• NCSER Commissioner Announces Departure: On June 22, Dr. Nathan Jones, the Commissioner for the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), announced his departure from the agency.