Congress was in session this week, and Secretary McMahon testified before the House Committee on Education & Workforce regarding the Department of Education’s (ED) priorities and President Trump’s FY27 budget proposal. ED also launched numerous grant competitions this week, including one focused on career pathways, and released a new draft of accreditation regulations ahead of another week of accreditation negotiated rulemaking. Read more updates below.  

• ED Secretary McMahon Testified at House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing: On May 14, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education,” where U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testified. Read more on the blog.  

• ED Launches Several Grant Competitions: This week, ED announced the launch of several grant competitions, including the Ready to Learn Program and the Promise Neighborhoods Program, the Comprehensive Centers Program, the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, and a $144 million investment for students with disabilities. ED and DOL also announced a grant competition related to career pathways, and readers can learn more about this grant and the call for peer reviewers on the blog. 

• OCTAE Issues Memo on Postsecondary Credentials: On May 12, the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) at ED issued a memo to states on recognized postsecondary credentials in CTE fields, outlining strategies for states related to expanding and assessing credentials. OCTAE also recommends incorporating AI certifications into CTE programs. 

• ED Releases New Draft of Accreditation Regulations: This week, ED released a new draft of accreditation regulations ahead of the second and final week of accreditation-related negotiated rulemaking. While most of the regulations remain unchanged, a few noteworthy edits were made, including a new definition of “academic freedom” that accreditors would be required to enforce and new transfer of credit language.  

• Department of Commerce Announces Funding Opportunity to Upskill American Workers in AI: On May 11, the Department of Commerce announced that it is making available approximately $25 million in funding as part of a new AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program. This initiative will support the design and implementation of AI workforce training, helping to train workers and grow industries that are integral to regional economies.  

• Lawsuit Attempting to Stop Dismantling of ED Moves Forward: On May 8, a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop the administration from dismantling ED. The NAACP, the National Education Association and other groups sued the department and ED Secretary McMahon in March 2025, alleging that the administration’s attempts to close the department are illegal. 

• Federal Student Aid Launches Hiring Spree: An article from POLITICO noted that ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid has launched a hiring spree, seeking to onboard an additional 334 full-time workers despite mass layoffs occurring at the office last year. 

• FAFSA Simplifications Led to Increased Student Eligibility: A report from the Government Accountability Office found that the simplification of the FAFSA process, including a shorter application for some applicants and a reworked eligibility formula, led to a 6% increase in the number of students eligible for Pell Grants and a 31% increase in the number of students eligible for the maximum Pell Grant in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. 

• Secretary of Education Visits Alaska as Part of National Tour: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon continued her Returning Education to the States tour, visiting Alaska. On May 8, she visited Mat-Su Career & Tech High School, touring classrooms specializing in forestry and piloting. She then participated in a workforce development roundtable with students to hear what sets Mat-Su Career & Tech High School apart and how the programs support career development.