October 8,  2026

Leading the News this Week

U.S. Department of Education Announces “Defend The Spend” Stipulations for All Grantees

From November 1^st onwards, all institutions that receive grants from the Department of Education will be required to provide a written justification for drawing down pre-approved funding. This directive applies to all Department of Education (ED) grant recipients, including institutions with federally funded early childhood education programs. According to a memo from ED, justifications can be no longer than 255 characters, and must not contain what the ED describes as an additional narrative; if a justification is flagged, grantees will receive an email requesting further clarification. You can find support services and step-by-step instructions on how to submit a written justification here. You can read the ED’s Defend the Spend memo here.

Read on for more top federal news affecting community colleges.

News in Higher Education

Department of Education announces an additional $39 million for TRIO grantees

The Department of Education has announced a further $39 million in second slate funding for TRIO grantees, bringing the total funding for grantees of the Talent Search Program and the Educational Opportunity Center program to over $225 million. $32 million of this second slate funding went to 52 new Talent Search Program grantees, while the remaining $7 million went towards new Educational Opportunity Center Program grantees, calming the fears of education advocates who worried that money typically distributed to institutional programs would instead be given to states or workforce-pathway programs.

The Talent Search Program, which supports increasing rates of college attendance among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, awarded a total of $174.5 million to 476 grantees. The Educational Opportunity Center Program, which seeks to increase rates of college attendance among adults, awarded a total of roughly $52 million to 124 grantees.

You can read more about the Talent Search Program here, and more about the Educational Opportunities Center Program here.  

Federal Court Rules that Department of Education and Other Agencies Unlawfully Changed Immigrants’ Eligibility for Federal Public Benefits

On September 21, 2026, a federal district court judge in Rhode Island issued a summary judgement to 20 states and the District of Columbia that the Departments of Education, Justice, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services violated the Administrative Procedure Act when they reinterpreted “federal public benefits” under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. The change would have required proof of citizenship in order to gain access to federally funded programs including Head Start and food assistance programs. The judge halted the adoption of these changes nationwide. If federal agencies wish to pursue these changes, they will be required to engage in established notice-and-comment processes before enaction.

You can read the summary judgement here.

Higher Ed Associations File Lawsuit in Response to ICE’s Threatening of International Student Internship Program

On October 5, 2026, a group of higher education associations filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice in response to messages issued by the departments in August proposing changes to Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students. The agencies’ proposed changes would limit the access of international students to CPT programs, which allow international students to engage in internships and experiential learning opportunities related to their fields of study.

The complaint alleges that the messages issued by ICE have already and will continue to negatively impact both higher education institutions and students, and that the pursuit of these changes without adequate adherence to formal rulemaking policies is ultimately unlawful.

You can read more about the lawsuit here.

Snapshots

1. Thousands of public servants awaiting student loan forgiveness (The Washington Post)
2. Supporting Student Parents in Rural America (Inside Higher Ed)

This Fall: Invite Your Members of Congress to Campus!

ACCT's Toolkit to Host Congressional Visits

During this year’s long congressional state work periods in September and October, 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 Toolkit on How to Host Your Member of Congress, 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 time to:

• Invite your Member of Congress to visit your community college.
• 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. If you invite a candidate that is not yet in office, you must invite all candidates for that seat and provide equal time, without endorsement.
• Invite your Member of Congress to speak at a program graduation or annual commencement.

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

Department of Energy Annual Recurring University Training and Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is accepting proposals for its Annual Recurring University Training and Research Program. This Research and Development grant, in collaboration with the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO), is intended to expand the research capabilities of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); to support early research at U.S. universities and postsecondary institutions; to increase research opportunities for students from marginalized communities; and to ensure that students are equipped with cutting-edge and translatable skillsets that allow them to succeed in the workforce. DOE anticipates 15 awards that are capped at a $750,000 maximum over a three-year period; all applicants must ensure that the Principal Investigator on their application is a professor at their institution, and that at least one student will receive compensation for research performed. All U.S. private and public institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. The deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting proposals for its Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program. This grant aims to facilitate multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded initiatives and projects. The grant is intended to address regional and/or national specialty crop issues, including, but not limited to: food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crops-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. USDA anticipates about 20 awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Cost sharing is required, and applicants must demonstrate 25%. The application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps

The Department of Interior (DOI) is accepting proposals for its Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps. The Headquarters Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices have collaborated with Qualified Youth Corps, as authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), to accomplish natural and cultural resource-focused projects for numerous years. This program’s projects provide opportunities to gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management. DOI anticipates about 8 awards ranging from $30,000 to $220,000 over three years or less. Cost sharing is required; applicants must demonstrate a 25 percent. The application deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026.  Learn more and apply here.

Collections Stewardship

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Collections & Infrastructure is currently accepting proposals for the Collections Stewardship, a program that aims to advance the preservation and availability of physical and digital collections crucial for research, education, and public engagement in the humanities. Projects may include conservations and preservation, digitization and description, enhancement of existing digital resources, and preservation services & education training. All public and private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. NEH anticipates around 50 awards ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Awards are available in three tiers: tier 1 consists of planning projects that range from $50,000 to $100,000; tier 2 consists of individual implementation projects ranging from $100,001 to $350,000; and tier 3 consists of implementation projects involving more than one organization ranging from $350,001 to $500,000. The application deadline is Tuesday, December 15, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

• October 12 - National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program
• October 13, 1:15-2:15 PM ET - ED Cohort Default Rate Webinar for College Leaders
• October 16 - Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps Deadline
• October 16 - Annual Recurring University Training and Research Deadline
• 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
• December 4 - Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program
• December 15 - Collections Stewardship

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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