July 9, 2026

Leading the News this Week

Action Requested by Monday, July 13: 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 Monday, July 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Read on for more news this week...

News in Higher Education

REMINDER: FRIDAY, July 10th. 1-2PM ET – Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live

The ACCT Government Relations Team invites you to join us for our monthly webinar, Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live - Register Today! 

Community Colleges Urge Senate to Provide Dedicated Funding in Farm Bill

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) released a proposal to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which impacts U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding. While the latest Farm Bill expired in 2023, Congress has yet to pass a reauthorization. The Senate draft would add community colleges as eligible for USDA funds, but would require community colleges to compete against better-resourced land-grant universities, putting community colleges at a competitive disadvantage. Because the proposal is still a discussion draft, the committee has the opportunity to add community college provisions during the markup process. 

The House-passed Farm Bill included a version of the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act (CCAAA). The bill authorizes grants to help community colleges modernize agricultural training programs, invest in instructional technology and equipment, and prepare students for high-demand careers in precision agriculture and other emerging agricultural fields.

ED Releases New Regulatory Agenda

On June 27, the Department of Education (ED) released its latest regulatory agenda, outlining 19 planned rulemaking items for the coming year. Six items concern higher education directly, and four concern civil rights enforcement. Timelines listed in the agenda are projections and often shift; several items carried over from last year's agenda.

Among the items most relevant to community colleges, ED plans to rework federal student aid eligibility rules that it says currently make it harder for colleges to merge, sell, or transfer, with rulemaking sessions starting this month.  The agenda also includes plans to formally rescind the Biden-era Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan and pursue changes aimed at lowering textbook costs and improving college credit transfer policies.

ACCT Blog: From Passage to Implementation, H.R. 1's Effects on Community Colleges

In a blog post, ACCT's Genesis Santiago breaks down how H.R. 1's higher education provisions affect community colleges as they take effect this month. On accountability, most earnings-premium measures start July 1, 2026, though tipped-wage fields like cosmetology get an extra year. Santiago flags a concern that the accountability rule compares completers' earnings to 25-to-34-year-olds with just a high school diploma, a group that often benefits seniority-based raises.

On Workforce Pell, the Department of Education (ED) adopted ACCT's request to reward -- instead of punish -- students who complete a short-term Workforce Pell Grant program and remain enrolled in college. However, ED did not accept ACCT's ask for immediate program eligibility after 12 months. Programs must now operate under all requirements for a full year before approval, so students likely won't see Workforce Pell dollars until 2027.

On student loans, community colleges need faculty with graduate degrees to maintain accreditation, and ACCT urged ED to broaden the "professional" degree definition, so colleges have a wider pipeline of instructors, especially in nursing. Although ED rejected ACCT's request, a federal judge recently ruled that ED must expand the "professional" degree definition to include nursing, physician assistants, and other fields.

Congressional Visit Spotlight

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 10, 1-2 PM ET ACCT LAW Live
• July 10, 4:59 PM ET AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program Application Closes
• 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. 

For more community college news from inside the beltway, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, or like us Facebook.