August 13,  2026

Leading the News this Week

On August 4, 2026 the Department of Education approved the nation's first Workforce Pell Grant program at Iowa Central Community College. As such, eligible students can now apply federal Pell Grant dollars toward their education in Iowa Central's Emergency Medical Technician program.

Front row, left to right: Iowa Central Community College's President Jesse Ulrich, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling.

ACCT looks forward to the new Workforce Pell programs that will begin across the country. Please reach out to the ACCT team at publicpolicy@acct.org with news of your college's Workforce Pell program(s) going live.  

News in Higher Education

Senate Passes Continuing Resolution, a Step to Avoid a Government Shutdown

On August 8, the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded until December 11th. 

The legislation includes language ACCT supports to temporarily halt the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) rule giving political appointees in the executive branch greater authority over the distribution of federal grants. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Democrats requested the measure to block the OMB rule.

Earlier, the House passed its own version of a CR lasting until December 4, without any changes to the OMB. When the House and Senate return to DC, they will need to reach agreement on an identical version. Federal funding is set to expire on September 30 unless Congress acts. To learn more, click here.

The Department of Education Issues Final Deadline for Financial Value Transparency/ Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) Data Submission

On August 11, the Department of Education (ED) issued guidance for institutions to submit Financial Value Transparency(FVT) and Gainful Employment (GE) data. ED has specified that the more than 1,900 institutions that did not submit or underreported FVT/GE data for the 2024 and 2025 cycles are now delinquent and have until January 15, 2027 to submit, a deadline ED is not intending to extend.

For the current 2026 cycle, institutions have until October 1, 2026, to submit their FVT/GE data; however, they can opt out of reporting certain data elements if they intend to participate in the early implementation of the new reporting requirements in the Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS). This new framework replaces FVT/GE.  Otherwise, institutions are expected to comply with all FVT/GE reporting requirements. 

ED has announced that it will consider taking action against non-compliant institutions, which "may include fines, sanctions, or other actions we deem appropriate for non-compliant institutions."

The Department of Education Has Left More Appropriated Funds Unspent Than in Prior Years

An Education Week analysis of federal spending data found that the Department of Education (ED) left more than $75 million in congressionally appropriated funds unspent by the end of fiscal year 2025, more than during any comparable period across the prior decade. Across eight agency accounts, ED left just $9.9 million unspent total from fiscal years 2015-2024, compared to over $75 million in fiscal 2025 alone. Affected accounts included the Office of Civil Rights, staff salaries, mental health grants, education research through the Institute of Education Sciences, and career and technical education. Data through June suggests a similar pattern this year, and OMB has withheld fiscal year 2026 funding for more than 20 competitive grant programs it has proposed eliminating.

An ED spokesperson said having unobligated funds isn't uncommon. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has said the administration isn't improperly withholding funds, though he has separately argued the law barring a president from withholding appropriations is unconstitutional. Federal law generally requires agencies to spend their full appropriation within set timelines, and a president can only rescind funds with congressional approval.

Department of Energy Launches $100 Million PROSPECT Program

The Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation announced a Notice of Intent for up to $100 million to build the nation's critical minerals workforce through the Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative. The program aims to double the number of graduates with degrees related to mining, minerals, and associated supply chain technologies within two years, and will support scholarships, financial aid, and new curricula and teaching tools for programs in this field. DOE estimates the country will need approximately 6,000 new mining engineers over the next decade, alongside shortages in materials science, processing, and recycling. "The PROSPECT Program is intended to foster collaboration among universities, industry, national laboratories, community colleges, trade schools, and other workforce partners to develop scalable models that expand the domestic talent pipeline." Learn more here.

August Recess: Invite Your Members of Congress

ACCT's August Recess Toolkit

During the August recess, congressional lawmakers return to their home states and districts to engage with their constituents and to pitch the many accomplishments they have made throughout the congressional session. Community college leaders have an optimal opportunity to establish, strengthen, or renew relationships with the lawmakers that represent their campuses and advocate for community college legislative priorities.

Take a look at ACCT’s new August Recess Toolkit, which offers strategies to strengthen relationships with congressional lawmakers. On ACCT Now, read the blog, Community College Advocacy Continues All Year Round: Invite Your Member of Congress to Meet Back Home!

Remember -- you can use this August Recess to:

• Invite your Member of Congress to visit your community college.
• Invite your Member of Congress to speak at a program graduation or annual commencement.
• Meet your Member of Congress at the congressional district office.
• Attend a congressional town hall, parade, BBQ, or other event that features your Member of Congress.
• Host a nonpartisan candidate forum, town hall, or tour with your Member of Congress or candidates seeking election for that congressional seat.

Please contact the ACCT Government Relations team with information and pictures of your visit: publicpolicy@acct.org. We would like to uplift your member of Congress’s engagement with your community college to inspire others.

Grant Opportunities

Please view this new ACCT Now Blog: Beyond the Department of Education: Other Federal Grants Worth Your Time

Please view ACCT's new resource highlighting top competitive grant opportunities for community colleges. These below are the top highlights:

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants competition to support education and training that improves mine safety and health. Approximately five awards are expected, with grant amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Community colleges are eligible to apply either independently or as the lead organization in a partnership with other eligible entities. Projects should focus on emergency response and recovery training, instruction on new Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) standards, and training to address identified mine hazards, with particular emphasis on programs serving new, recently opened, or smaller mines. No cost sharing is required. The application deadline is August 18, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

Community College Internship (CCI) Program - U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

The Department of Energy's Office of Science is accepting applications for the Community College Internship (CCI) program, a paid 10-week internship at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories and facilities. Students work alongside scientists and engineers on technical projects supporting DOE's science and technology mission, with internship terms offered in summer, fall, and spring. Applicants must be currently enrolled full- or part-time at a community college, have completed at least one semester with a minimum of 12 total credit hours (including 6 in STEM), and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Participants receive a weekly stipend of $650, along with travel reimbursement and housing support. The application deadline is September 30th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Learn more and apply here.

NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs

The National Science Foundation is accepting proposals for State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs, which will connect researchers and students to AI computing resources and build a skilled AI workforce. NSF anticipates about 10 awards ranging from $4 million to $12 million over five years, with only one award per state or multi-state region. Hubs are structured as consortia of institutions of higher education, including community colleges, working with industry, philanthropy, and state and local governments, and must address workforce development, faculty training, and regional partnerships alongside infrastructure. The full proposal deadline is November 4, 2026.  Learn more and apply here.

• August 18, 11:59 PM ET - Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants
• September 4, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• September 30, 5 PM ET -  Community College Internship (CCI) Program
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• October 21-24 -  ACCT Leadership Congress
• November 4, 11:59 PM ET - NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs
• November 6, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live 
• December 4, 1-2 PM ET- -  ACCT LAW Live

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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