On January 19, lawmakers in both the House and Senate released compromised language on a four-bill minibus funding the remaining agencies in the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2026. This minibus includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies funding bill.
The bill funds the Department of Education (ED) at approximately $78.79 billion, which represents a $32 million increase over FY 25 enacted levels. The bill proposes level funding for most programs, including the Perkins State Grant, which would be funded at approximately $1.4 billion. This is a big victory for education and workforce development programs that were targeted for deep cuts by the Administration and in the House bill.
With regard to the inter-agency agreements (IAA) shifting the administration of funds from ED to other agencies, the proposal includes language that could be interpreted as limiting the scope of IAAs. The bill states that the Administration is prohibited from transferring funds to other federal agencies unless specifically authorized by an appropriations law. However, it is unclear how this language will ultimately be applied.
The House is expected to take up the minibus this week with the Senate following next week when they return to session. ACTE will keep you up to date on the latest developments. If you have any questions, please contact ACTE’s Government Relations Manager, Jimmy Koch (jkoch@acteonline.org).
