March 10, 2025

Leading the News this Week

On Friday, President Trump signed the executive order titled "Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness." This directs the Secretary of Education to ensure that organizations engaging in activities deemed as illegal are excluded from eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This order defines illegal activities as supporting violations of immigration laws, aiding terrorist organizations, facilitating sex reassignment for minors, permitting illegal discrimination, and engaging in disorderly conduct. Potentially, employees of such organizations would be disqualified for applying for student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. Critics claim that non-profits are mission based organizations, thus this executive order is in violation free-speech. 

News in Higher Education

Republicans are Pushing a CR with Little to No Help from the Democrats

With four days left before the March 14th deadline, House Republicans released a continuing resolution (CR) which is to fund the government until September using FY 2024 levels. This CR draws criticism from Democrats as it does not have language that would ensure the Trump administration would spend the funds as enacted by Congress.

Moreover this version of the CR proposes cuts in non-defense funding by $13 billion which includes a $202 million cut to the Fund for Improvement in Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE), which are Congressionally funded community projects, formerly known as earmarks, administered by the Department of Education. 

In addition, this CR proposes to end $107 million in funding for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration's Demonstration and Pilot projects, while also rescinding $75 million of $301 million for Dislocated Workers assistance.

ACCT is extremely concerned about the devastating impact the proposed slashes could have on our institutions' most vulnerable students. We urge our members to reach out to your federal representatives and share how these cuts would negative impact their constituents and ask them to reject these cuts to education programs. Please visit ACCT's Action Center to let your elected official know your concerns.

LAW is Going Live

Please join ACCT's Government Relations Team this Friday, March 14th, at 1:00PM EST as they unpack updates in the Federal government and how they may impact community colleges, higher education, and workforce development. The first LAW Live Webinar is set to take please March 14th, at 1:00PM EST. Click here to register.   

Grant Opportunities

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

Head Start/Early Head Start

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice of a competitive grant opportunity to provide funds for Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to eligible children and families. Eligible states are Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. Click here for additional information. The closing date for application is April 29, 2025 11:59 PM EST.

March 14 1:00PM EST - LAW Live Webinar

April 4 1:00PM EST - LAW Live Webinar

April 29 11:59PM EST - Head Start/Early Head Start Grant Application Closes

May 2 1:00PM EST - LAW Live Webinar

June 6 1:00PM EST - LAW Live Webinar

The Department of Labor has issued five rounds of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants, impacting 356 states and totaling to $265 million in funding. 

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:

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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