- Trump administration to release ed funding after push from GOP senators
- Supreme Court allows layoffs, ED’s reorganization moves forward
- Departments of Education and Labor announce plan to shift CTE programs
- House Appropriators announce topline numbers for Labor-HHS-Education programs
- Register for Advocates in Action 2025
Trump administration to release ed funding after push from GOP senators
The Trump administration will release the $7 billion in federal education grants — including more than $715 million for Adult Basic Education Grants — that were not awarded as scheduled on July 1, according to a social media post today by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), who chairs of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS).
This action comes after a group of 10 Republican senators sent opens in a new windowa letteropens PDF file urging Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to release the approved funds, stating that “the decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states.” The letter highlighted the importance of the funding in serving adult learners transitioning into postsecondary education.
The letter was led by the top Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Capito and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). opens in a new windowHouseopens PDF file and opens in a new windowSenate Democrats also sent several letters to the Education Department on this issue, and a group of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the administration over the withheld funds.
AACC does not yet have details on a new disbursement timeline, but we expect that information to be forthcoming.
ED, Labor announce plan to shift CTE programs
The Supreme Court this week issued an order allowing the Trump Administration to move forward with its layoff and reorganization plans for the Education Department (ED). The order lifted a temporary injunction issued by a lower court, which had blocked ED’s plan to nix 1,400 employees and further plans to adjust agency responsibilities.
As a result of the high court’s decision, ED and the Department of Labor (DOL) have resumed their plan to shift several programs from ED to DOL’s portfolio. The interagency agreement aims to move both Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act programs and adult education programs to DOL was disclosed as part of the litigation around ED reorganization and layoffs.
Under the agreement, dollars will still be assigned to ED’s budget, programs will be administered by DOL, and DOL will be reimbursed for administration costs. ED will retain an oversight function and responsibility. It is not yet clear if Congress will oppose this reorganization and what actions they might take as part of the appropriations process.
News of this plan prompted opposition from CTE advocates, who fear the move will cause additional burden and confusion for states and institutions. House and Senate Democrats quickly sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasizing that such a move would require a change in statute.
House appropriators announce topline numbers for ED, Labor programs
With budget reconciliation wrapped up, Congress has now turned its attention back to the annual appropriations process.
Earlier this summer, the Trump administration released its full fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) budget request, asking for a 22.6% cut to discretionary, non-defense funding, including a 15% cut to funding for ED. It also proposed eliminating or dramatically reducing funding for key programs, including TRIO and GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Adult Education, Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), and the HEA Title III-A Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP).
Notably, the budget request seeks to cut the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,710 for the 2026-27 award year.
While congressional Republicans will press down on spending for domestic programs, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) has indicated that they will not make dramatic cuts to align with the president’s budget request. He announced this week that the House will allocate $705.6 billion for discretionary, non-defense programs, representing a 6% cut from current levels (and a far cry from the 22.6% requested by the president). The Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee will work with an allocation of $184.5 billion, down from $185.6 billion in FY 25.
While this spells a much better funding environment than that envisioned in the budget request, it makes funding increases very unlikely and may still leave many programs vulnerable to cuts or even elimination. AACC urges its member colleges to highlight the importance of Pell grants, campus-based aid, institutional aid and other key grant programs to their members of Congress.
While the Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its bill in September, advocacy on funding issues should be prioritized sooner rather than later.
Register for Advocates in Action 2025
Register now for AACC’s opens in a new windowAdvocates in Action, the annual two-day seminar in Washington, D.C., September 17-18.
The program is designed for community college leaders who want an insider’s view on how Washington formulates higher education policy and who want to become more involved in the federal legislative process. Interactive sessions with key executive branch officials and senior congressional staff will provide insights about the current dynamics and issues surrounding key funding and other pending legislation. Time is reserved for attendees to meet with their federal legislators to advocate for community college priorities.
Community college presidents, trustees, government relations directors and other campus administrators can take advantage of this opportunity to network, discuss key policy issues and advocate for critical federal programs.