Congress passes stopgap funding bill through December
The House on Tuesday approved a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Dec. 11. The measure, which was previously passed by the Senate, was quickly signed into law by President Trump on Wednesday.
Congress is required to pass annual appropriations bills to fund discretionary defense and non-defense programs. The appropriations process typically takes place over the spring and summer, ideally giving Congress plenty of time to finalize bills before funding expires at the end of the fiscal year on October 1. However, in recent years, political dynamics have made this process more difficult, and Congress has instead relied on short-term CRs while they finalize funding measures. In election years, annual appropriations bills are often finalized – or year-long CRs are passed – in December before the conclusion of the Congress.
A CR typically simply extends current spending levels through a new expiration date, but it can include funding changes, called anomalies, or policy riders. The CR signed into law includes a rider that would delay implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) opens in a new windowproposed regulations on grant administration until Dec. 11. AACC remains extremely concerned about the terms of the proposed OMB guidance and has urged Congress to permanently prohibit its implementation. AACC also communicated the sector’s concerns through comments on the regulation itself.
ED proposes new grant requirements
On Aug. 24, the Education Department (ED) released proposed updates to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), which govern most federal education grants. As covered in opens in a new window Community College Daily, the proposal closely echoes the proposed OMB updates to uniform guidance for federal grantees and Trump Administration executive orders. The proposed EDGAR rules would: allow ED to terminate grants if they no longer align with agency priorities; require grantees to abide by ED’s interpretation of nondiscrimination laws in hiring, promotions and compensation; and require policies protecting free speech and viewpoint diversity. Finally, the proposed rules would favor applicants with lower indirect cost rates and direct more funding toward program activities rather than facilities and administrative expenses. AACC is closely reviewing the proposed EDGAR regulations and will join comments communicating the sector’s concerns.
AACC urges member comments on accreditation regulations
Community college leaders have until Sept. 21 to weigh in on ED’s proposed accreditation regulations. AACC is encouraging members to submit comments and reinforce several key priorities for the sector.
AACC supports the proposal’s transfer-of-credit provisions, which would require institutions to explain why credits are not accepted, helping ensure greater transparency and fairness for students.
At the same time, AACC will urge ED to better refine proposed cost-benefit analysis requirements so they rely on realistic measures and recognize that many student-focused activities cannot be reduced to economic calculations. Colleges already closely monitor expenditures and remain committed to fiscal responsibility.
AACC also opposes provisions requiring accreditors to enforce intellectual diversity and First Amendment protections. Community colleges already uphold First Amendment requirements, and involving accreditors in these areas could add unnecessary complexity while moving accreditation away from its core focus on quality assurance.
More broadly, AACC is concerned that the proposal would use accreditation to expand federal involvement in institutional practices and assign accreditors responsibilities that may fall outside their expertise or duplicate the work of other entities.
If you are interested in weighing in on the accreditation regulations or would like more information on these issues, please reach out to us at opens in a new windowogr@aacc.nche.educreate new email.
ED reminds colleges to submit GE/FVT, STATS data ahead of upcoming deadlines
AED released an opens in a new windowElectronic Announcement (EA) in August with information for colleges on reporting requirements under the current Gainful Employment/Financial Value Transparency (GE/FVT) framework and the forthcoming Student Tuition and Transparency (STATS) and Earnings Accountability framework.
The guidance reminds colleges of their responsibility to submit complete GE/FVT data for the 2024 and 2025 reporting cycles by Jan. 15, 2027. According to the initial release, more than 1,900 institutions had not reported or had underreported this data.
In a opens in a new windowsubsequent EA issued Sept. 2, there are still 1,790 institutions with missing information. The new EA provides more information on minimum reporting requirements for institutions and includes a spreadsheet of institutions that have not submitted 2024 and/or 2025 data.
The EAs also remind institutions that the deadline to submit GE/FVT data for the 2026 cycle is Oct. 1, 2026. The guidance details the process for submitting data and how colleges may elect to early implement the STATS accountability framework’s reporting instead.
ED will host an opens in a new window“office hours” session on Sept. 10, from 3-4 p.m. ET, focused on these reporting procedures.
AACC remains very interested in how community colleges are navigating the transition from GE/FVT to STATS reporting. Please respond to this email or reach out to AACC’s Office of Public Purpose and National Advocacy to share your experience.