Day 27 of the Government Shutdown Affects SNAP and Head Start, Congressional Republicans Push Department of Education to Restore HSI Funding, NLS Registration Now OPEN
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October 27, 2025
Leading the News this Week
Today is the twenty-seventh day of the federal government shutdown, and the effects are being felt outside of the walls of government.
Please continue to the next section for the latest updates.
News in Higher Education
The Shutdown Affects SNAP and Head Start
On October 10th, the Department of Agriculture sent a letter to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regional directors indicating that there is no funding for 42 million recipients for November. In this same letter, states were directed to hold benefits until further notice.
The National Head Start Association and its state chapters have reported that if the government shutdown continues, funds expected on November 1st will likely not be available, impacting over 100 programs. Usually, about 80 percent of Head Start programs' funding comes from federal revenue; without these funds, programs will have to pause or cease operations.
Meanwhile, in addition to Senator Ron Johnson's Shutdown Fairness Act, which would have paid federal employees working during the shutdown, Senator Ted Cruz (TX) introduced the Keep America Flying Act to pay air traffic controllers, while Senator Dan Sullivan's (AK) Pay Our Military Act would pay military employees during this shutdown. As a reminder, under current law, workers deemed essential are to keep working through the shutdown without pay, including air traffic controllers and military members. The expectation is that they will receive back pay once the shutdown ends.
Congressional Republicans Push Department of Education to Restore HSI Funding
On October 8th, six Congressional Republicans from the Congressional Hispanic Conference sent a letter to the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, stating that Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) “do not artificially seek to meet quotas to obtain federal funds; rather, they serve the communities in which they are located.” They also stated, “these programs play a vital role in preparing students from HSIs for careers in STEM, developing the next generation of teachers, and advancing research in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.”
In September, the Department of Education reprogrammed discretionary HSI funding to other programs; this is in addition to the Department of Justice deciding not to defend the HSI program, which is in a lawsuit brought by the State of Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and LatinoJustice PRLDE have joined to intervene and defend the HSI program in court.
NLS Registration Now OPEN
The National Legislative Summit (NLS) is the premier community college advocacy event in Washington, DC, bringing together more than 1,000 community college leaders from February 8 to 11, 2026. The event shines a spotlight on the importance of our nation’s community colleges for Congress and the Administration.
NLS participants will hear from members of U.S. Congress, administration officials, leading political analysts, and other high-profile speakers about the current climate in D.C., recent elections, and legislative issues impacting community colleges.
Participants also have the opportunity to network with fellow community college leaders and meet with their U.S. representatives in Congress to advocate for their support for community colleges and their students. Click here to register.
Join Us in Advocacy
As a reminder, in this appropriations cycle, ACCT is advocating for members of Congress to fund programs such as Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) and the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). These programs provide much-needed support for students and institutions.
To move forward with our advocacy and communicate with lawmakers the importance of CCAMPIS and SIP, we need your help! We urge you to please share with us how your campuses have benefited from CCAMPIS and SIP at publicpolicy@acct.org.
Also, we call upon you to participate in our Action Campaign and let your member of Congress know the devastating effects should CCAMPIS and SIP no longer exist.
- November 7, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar
- December 5, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar
- February 8-11, 2026: National Legislative Summit
Outreach Efforts
Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?
We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC.
ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:
Would you Like a Federal Update Session for Your Team?
Both this new presidential administration and new Congress have brought with them a flurry of developments in the federal landscape that can make keeping up a monumental task. ACCT's Government Relations team is here to help by offering a 45-minute to an-hour federal update session to community college leadership teams who are ACCT members. To request a session, fill out this form and please email publicpolicy@acct.org with any questions.
Have a Question?
Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.
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Spread the Word.
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