This week the primary focus on the Hill was President Trump’s address to Congress, with concerns also growing about some proposed policy shifts and DOGE-related cuts. Several congressional committees did focus on education and workforce issues though, discussing potential funding and legislative opportunities to promote career development and education. The Senate also confirmed Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. Meanwhile, as the deadline looms closer, Congressional leaders are working to agree on a plan to fund the government after March 14. Read more for details!
- Republican Leaders Prepare Year-long Continuing Resolution: With federal funding set to expire on March 14, Congress has been working on plans to finish work on FY 2025 appropriations bills. Republican leaders in the House and Senate are currently working on a continuing resolution that would maintain federal funding at current levels for the rest of the fiscal year with a few adjustments. The text of this bill hasn’t been released yet, however, and it is unclear if there is enough support for it to pass.
- Linda McMahon Confirmed as Secretary of Education: On March 3, Linda McMahon was confirmed as Secretary of Education by the Senate. McMahon has expressed interest in CTE, specifically apprenticeship opportunities, and voiced support for expanding Pell Grants for short-term training programs. Learn more about her policies and background on the blog!
- Secretary McMahon Letter to the Department of Education: To kick off her term as Secretary, McMahon published a memo, “Our Department’s Final Mission,” to outline her policy goals for her tenure. Specifically, she pledged to review programs and initiatives and evaluate whether they should remain funded and functional, dependent on how they align with the Administration’s goals. McMahon’s intention to overhaul the agency is in line with President Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate the Department, which is rumored to be the focus of an upcoming Executive Order (EO).
- Education Department Releases New FAQs on DEI Issues: On February 14, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a Dear Colleague Letter suggesting a broad interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and directing educational institutions to comply with instructions outlined in the letter related to civil rights and anti-discrimination. To address questions on the letter, ED released an additional set of Frequently Asked Questions on March 1. Check out the blog for more details.
- House Education and Workforce Committee Holds WIOA Reauthorization Hearing: On March 7, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing focused on reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Lawmakers from both parties highlighted their interest in reauthorizing the legislation. Read more on the blog!
- Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee Holds Member Day: On March 5, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education held a Member Day. Member Days are an opportunity for Members of Congress who are not part of the Subcommittee to voice their interests and let the appropriators know what funding they want for their districts and communities. Witnesses included House CTE Caucus co-chair Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), both of whom advocated for continued investment in education, specifically CTE. Read more on the blog.
- President Trump Signs EO on English as National Language: President Trump signed an EO to designate English as the national language of the United States. This may have long-term implications for accommodating multilingual students. This also revokes previous mandates on translation services for federal agencies and the resources they provide.
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