Day 6 of the Government Shutdown, Preparing for Workforce Pell - Leveraging the State Data Infrastructure, Building a Bridge to Opportunity: The Rise of Dual Credit Pathways in Texas, Secretary McMahon Reveals Two New Grant Priorities
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October 6, 2025
Leading the News this Week
Today marks the sixth day of the federal government shutdown. While the House of Representatives was originally scheduled to be in session this week, Speaker Johnson has cancelled votes and designated the week as a district work period, just like he did last week for the last two days of September. Speaker Johnson has indicated that the House will not return until the Senate has passed the Republican-led CR that the House passed before leaving town. As has been the case in the past, the longer a shutdown lasts, the more programs and federal agencies that may be impacted by the closures, and the more likely it could impact our colleges and students. Please continue to the next section for the latest updates.
News in Higher Education
Day 6 of the Government Shutdown
Tonight, the Senate intends to vote, for the fifth time, on both the Democrat-led and the Republican-led Continuing Resolutions (CR) to reopen the government. Neither plan is expected to gain the needed 60 votes for passage. Meanwhile, as the Senate is in session, the House is in recess until October 13th, signaling that the House has no intention of altering its Republican-led CR passed weeks ago.
Overall, it is uncertain when the government will reopen as bipartisan negotiations are still distant. Democrats are aiming for an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire in December and the guarantee that the Trump administration will not attempt to cancel Congressionally agreed-upon funding. The Republicans have stated that they are willing to address these concerns after the government is reopened.
HAPPENING TOMORROW: Webinar Preparing for Workforce Pell - Leveraging the State Data Infrastructure
Tomorrow, October 7, 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET, join ACCT and Michelle Van Noy and Mark D'Amico from the Rutgers University Education and Employment Research Center where they will share information about the recently passed Workforce Pell legislation and lessons learned from the State Noncredit Data Project.
They will use data learned from eight partner states to describe some of assets and gaps in state noncredit data that will have bearing on pre-identifying potentially eligible programs and propose a series of recommendations about how to move toward successful Workforce Pell implementation. Click here to register for this webinar.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK: Webinar Building a Bridge to Opportunity: The Rise of Dual Credit Pathways in Texas
Join ACCT's Center for Policy and Practice on October 9th, 2 PM ET, as they dive into their project that explored innovative state strategies for funding community colleges and building dual enrollment pathways. Join us for launch of the first brief that looks at Texas’ efforts over the past ten years to expand access to dual enrollment pathways for underrepresented students. Hear insights from the brief and learn from two key stakeholders that were involved when Texas made substantive changes to its dual credit policies as it reformed its community college funding formula in the legislation. Register here.
Secretary Linda McMahon Reveals Two New Grant Priorities
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon released a total of seven proposed and finalized supplemental grant priorities. These will shape the Discretionary Grant Programs run by the Department. One of the latest two priorities, Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness, is geared towards workforce development programs. The second priority, Meaningful Learning Opportunities, aims to prepare students for employment, enrollment, enlistment, or entrepreneurship. This proposed priority would allow the Department to direct more competitive grant funding to particular instructional priorities not covered by the other priorities.
Join Us in Advocacy
As a reminder, in this appropriations cycle, ACCT is advocating for members of Congress to fund programs such as Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) and the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). These programs provide much-needed support for students and institutions.
To move forward with our advocacy and communicate with lawmakers the importance of CCAMPIS and SIP, we need your help! We urge you to please share with us how your campuses have benefited from CCAMPIS and SIP at publicpolicy@acct.org.
Also, we call upon you to participate in our Action Campaign and let your member of Congress know the devastating effects should CCAMPIS and SIP no longer exist.
- October 7, 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET: Preparing for Workforce Pell - Leveraging the State Data Infrastructure
- October 9, 2:00 PM ET: Building a Bridge to Opportunity: The Rise of Dual Credit Pathways in Texas
- October 15, 2:00 PM ET: California's Bridge to Opportunity: Investments in Dual Credit Pathways
- October 22 - 25: ACCT Leadership Congress
- November 7, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar
- December 5, 01:00 PM ET: LAW Live Webinar
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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