July 13, 2026

Leading the News this Week

Join ACCT's Vice President of Public Policy, Carrie Warick-Smith, tomorrow, July 14 at 1 PM ET, as she and her colleagues dig into the data and implications for students, institutions, and policymakers surrounding earnings outcomes for undergraduate certificate programs across all 50 states. Click HERE to register.

Read on for more news this week...

News in Higher Education

U.S. Department of Education Hosts Fraud Summit

On July 7, the Department of Education held the first-ever Higher Education Fraud Summit featuring discussions from the Office of Federal Student Aid, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), federal law enforcement, institutions of higher education, and third-party services.  

The Acting Inspector General, Mark E. Pribe, noted that they obtained more than $35 million in fines, recoveries, settlements, forfeitures, and restitution in the past year. Meanwhile, Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated the Department's anti-fraud work has prevented nearly $2 billion from falling into fraudsters' hands and added, "our work here is just getting started, and we will continue to keep our foot on the gas.” 

The OIG encourages anyone who suspects waste, fraud, or abuse involving Federal student aid to report it to the OIG Hotline at oighotline@ed.gov.  

House Education and Workforce Committee Moves to Codify Closing the Department of Education

On July 9, the Chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05), announced a 10-bill package, known as Less Bureaucracy, Better Education, aimed at codifying President Trump's agenda of shutting down the Department of Education (ED). Specifically, these bills would transfer offices in the Department of Education to other Departments and Agencies, such as the Departments of Labor, Treasury, Interior, Health and Human  Services, and State. These bills are scheduled for a markup on Wednesday, July 15, at 10:15 AM ET. 

Currently, ED has entered into 14 interagency agreements under which functions and staff across offices in the Department of Education have been transferred to other U.S. Departments and Agencies. Meanwhile, officially shutting down the Department of Education requires an act of Congress.

Action Requested by TONIGHT, 11:59pm ET: ACCT Urges Community Colleges to Oppose Proposed OMB Grant Rule Changes

ACCT opposes the proposed overhaul of federal grant rules by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB proposal would apply across discretionary grants and could affect funding from several federal agencies that support community colleges. The proposal would:

• Replace independent grant review with decisions based on political ideology.
• Allow termination of grants, with no right to appeal.
• Prevent grantees from advocacy unrelated to the award.
• Limit funding for subscription costs or membership in civic organizations

For an in-depth analysis, view the ACCT blog by Amanda Fuchs Miller, former U.S. Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education and president of Seventh Street Strategies.

TAKE ACTION NOW: After consulting your president’s office and reviewing your board’s policy on public comments, CLICK HERE to submit your comments. ACCT encourages community college leaders to explain how the proposed changes would affect their institutions, students, and communities. Comments are due by TONIGHT - Monday, July 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Grant Opportunities

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

NEW: Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced a $50 million million competition for institutions of higher education to support innovative projects that rapidly reskill and reemploy dislocated workers into high-wage, in-demand occupations. There are 25 expected awards available,  with award sizes ranging from $2 million to $8 million.  Community colleges and other institutions of higher education may apply if designated as an eligible entity by their governor of they demonstrate to the Secretary of Labor the capacity to respond to a major worker dislocation. The application deadline is August 3, 2026. Learn more and apply here. 

AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Grant Opportunity

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a grant aimed at strengthening workforce development and artificial intelligence training initiatives. Higher education advocates note these programs could provide important funding opportunities for community colleges seeking to expand student support services and workforce training programs. The deadline to submit an application is July 10, 2026, 4:59 PM ET via the EDGE submission portal. 

Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Program Grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the competition for $8.8 million for institutions of higher education to implement suicide prevention and mental health work. SAMHSA anticipates making 71 awards, with at least six awards to community colleges. The maximum federal grant is up to $125,000 per year for up to four years ($500,000 maximum). The application deadline is  Monday, July 27, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

• July 14 1 PM ET- Certificate earnings: What the data can tell us
• July 27, 2026 - Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grants Application Closes
• August 3, 11:59 PM ET - Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants
• August 7, 1-2 PM ET ACCT LAW Live
• September 4, 1-2 PM ET ACCT LAW Live
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET ACCT LAW Live
• October 21-24 ACCT Leadership Congress
• 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.

If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy

Spread the Word.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here. 

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