July 24, 2025

Leading the News this Week

Today, ACCT kicked off the first session of its three-part Advocacy Training Series, where members learned the art of crafting a story to share the unique value of their institution. Visit ACCT's Advocacy Toolkits Page for Penn Hill Group's open-source materials and visit ACCT Connect for member-only access to the presentation slides. For more information on the rest of the series, read on to the next section.

In the meantime, with members of Congress returning to their home districts for August Recess, now is the time to set up meetings with them and their staff to advocate for programs and funding that are critical to your institution and students.

News in Higher Education

Second Recissions Package May Cut Education Programs

Recently, the House and Senate passed a rescissions package that included cutting formerly appropriated funding to public broadcasting and foreign assistance programs. Reports are now indicating that the Trump administration is considering sending Congress a second rescissions request aimed at revoking funding for programs housed in the Department of Education. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is currently withholding about $716 million designated for Adult Basic Education programming. 

Student Loan Forgiveness is Paused Under the Income-Based Repayment Plan

The Department of Education has paused the student loan forgiveness for student loan borrowers under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. The department cites compliance with the ongoing court injuctions with the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan as its reason for temporarily pausing student loan forgiveness for these borrowers. The Department has not provided a date for when it will lift this pause. Meanwhile, borrowers on the SAVE Plan will start seeing interest accrue on their student loans beginning in August. 

GAO: The Trump Administration Broke the Law by Withholding Head Start Funds

According to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Health and Human Services violated the Impoundment Control Act when it withheld federal dollars aimed towards Head Start programs between January 20th and April 15th. GAO stated that the "executive branch officials must take care to ensure that they prudently obligate appropriations during their period of availability. " GAO further explains that the Head Start Act requires the Secretary to ensure that financial assistance is not suspended unless there is an emergency. It is important to note that community colleges around the country have Head Start centers on campus.  

Webinar on Title III Grants 

Join ACCT and Dr. Chris McCaghren, Acting Assistant Secretary from the Office of Postsecondary Education, on Tuesday, July 29th at 1 PM ET for an overview of the recently opened Title III grant competitions - including the AANAPISI, ANNH, and NASNTI programs (acronyms explained below under the Grants section). The webinar will provide opportunities for community colleges to learn about new priorities for the competitions and best practices when completing the application. We encourage new and returning applicants to attend. Click here to register. Please view the Grants section for additional information on these grants.

Save the Date: Sessions Two and Three of ACCT's New Advocacy Series

Please join us for parts two and/or three of the Advocacy Training Series. This free virtual advocacy training series will support community college leaders in telling their story: the value of community colleges to their regions and the importance of federal programs in supporting their work. 

• Aug 6th, 2:30 PM- 4 PM ET: Op-Ed How To on Community College Value 
• Aug 13th, 2:30 PM - 4 PM ET: Navigating the Federal Grant Landscape

Click here for additional information on this webinar series.

Please note that this series is for ACCT members only. Sessions will be interactive and will not be recorded. 

Grant Opportunities

Please review the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Community College webpage for new grants community colleges are eligible for.

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program 

The AANAPISI Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education to enable them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students. Institutions may use these grants to plan, develop, or implement activities that strengthen the institution's services, leading to student success. The closing date for this grant is August 13. Click here ​​​​​for additional information.

Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program, Part A 

The ANNH Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education to enable them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. Institutions may use these grants to plan, develop, or implement activities that strengthen the institution. The closing date for this grant is August 13. Click here ​​​​​for additional information.

Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Program 

The NASNTI Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education to enable them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals. Institutions may use the grants to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native American and low-income students. The closing date for this grant is August 13. Click here ​​​​​​for additional information.

Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) into Higher Education 

The purpose of the TPSID program is to support model demonstration programs that promote the successful transition of students with intellectual disabilities into higher education and to enable institutions of higher education (IHEs), or consortia of IHEs, to create or expand high-quality, inclusive model comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The closing date for this grant is August 13. Click here for additional information.

• July 29, 1:00 PM ET: Title III Grant Funding Opportunities: What to Expect from the Currently Open Competitions 

• Aug 1, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar

• Aug 6th, 2:30 PM ET - 4:00 PM ET: Op-Ed How To - Community College Value
• Aug 13th, 2:30 PM ET - 4:00 PM ET: Navigating the Federal Grant Landscape
• Aug 13th: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, Part A Grant Deadline
• Aug 13th: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program Grant Deadline
• Aug 13th: Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Grant Deadline
• Aug 13th: Transition Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities Into Higher Education Grant Deadline
• Sep 5, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar
• October 22 - 25: ACCT Leadership Congress

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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