August 27,  2026

Leading the News this Week

On August 24, the Department of Education (ED) proposed new rules that would politicize federal formula and competitive grants community colleges use to serve students. The proposed rule would:

• Allow ED to cancel grant funds "for convenience," an ambiguous term. If this becomes final, the current administration – or a future Democratic administration – could end existing multi-year grants if they disagree with a certain community college’s priorities.
• Prioritize grants with zero administrative costs, which could harm rural community colleges and others that do not have as much nonfederal funding as their high-resourced peers to keep the lights on and fund counselors or other student supports.
• Require community colleges to follow White House Executive Orders for formula grants (such as career and technical education), not just competitive grants.

Community colleges are encouraged to comment on the proposed regulations here. ACCT plans to provide more details in the near future.

Read on for more on the administration's efforts to politicize grants and additional news this week...

News in Higher Education

Administration Advances Grant Changes at NSF, Other Agencies

Similar to ED’s efforts, the National Science Foundation (NSF) proposed a rule that would allow this specific agency to terminate or suspend grants "if needed to protect government interests,” which could be used by any administration arbitrarily to oppose policies it does not like, despite Congress passing bipartisan bills supporting the agency programs. ACCT shared its deep concerns [JE1] with the NSF rule in a unified public comment with 24 other higher education groups.

Critics have noted that the NSF proposal is an agency-specific version of the White House Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) proposed rule aimed at giving presidential appointees more influence on grants across the entire federal government. The OMB proposal drew nearly half a million comments during the public comment period.

ACCT strongly opposed the OMB rule and urged changes, along with other higher education groups.

The initial OMB proposal has drawn threats of legal challenges as well as a bipartisan U.S. Senate vote of 90-9 on a bill to delay its implementation. Experts point out that while the administration waits to finalize its OMB rules affecting multiple agencies, individual agencies are proposing their own versions, which may draw less attention and fewer public comments.  Read more here.

FAFSA Set to Launch By October 1

The Department of Education is currently beta testing the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which is currently in phase two of testing. Education Secretary Linda McMahon certified to Congress on August 25 that the form will launch on October 1. As part of the second phase of testing, students and parents can log in to StudentAid.gov and request an invitation for beta access. Users not selected for testing will have access to the 2027-2028 FAFSA starting October 1, 2026. 

ACCT Community College Alum Intern Story: The Role of Federal Aid in Expanding College Access

Federal Student Aid such as the Pell Grant has a transformative impact on the lives of countless students. Such programs not only open the doors for higher education opportunities immediately in front of students, but they also shape the subsequent options they have in the long-term. ACCT's Summer 2026 intern and Chabot College alumnus, Lawrence Ochea, not only provides his personal story as a Pell Grant and Federal Work Study recipient, but he also dives into how these programs make higher education accessible for millions of students nationwide.  Take a look at his ACCT Now blog, My Pell Grant Story: The Role of Federal Aid in Expanding College Access, for the full story. 

Department of Education Unveils Proposed Accreditation Rule

On August 19, the Department of Education (ED[JE1] ) published its proposed final rule to update the accreditation system (press release). President Donald Trump and ED have consistently discussed their plans to change accreditation to reduce barriers for new accrediting bodies entering the field and to make it easier for institutions to change their accreditors. Institutions of higher education must be accredited to participate in the federal student aid program. In these proposed rules, ED aims to implement the following: 

• Have institutions publicly disclose their credit transfer policies.  Institutions that elect to deny transfer credits must give a written explanation to the student and provide a cost estimate of how much it would be to retake the courses. Students would have 15 days to appeal the institution's denial.   
• Eliminate the two-year rule for accrediting bodies to gain initial recognition, along with what ED deems unnecessary documentation and site visits.
• "Shift institutions’ and programs’ focus towards cost-effective practices for staffing, facilities, student services, and program design" by having accreditors minimize administrative burdens and duplicative reporting.
• Require accreditors to implement measures of student and institutional performance such as completion rates and economic returns.
• Require accreditors to remove any geographic restrictions or constraints.
• Require accreditors to be neutral in viewpoint and ideology when making accrediting decisions and clarify expectations for "reviewing student achievement and faculty-related policies, including academic freedom and intellectual diversity."

ACCT intends to participate in the public comment period,  which closes September 21, 2026. 

This Summer and 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 August, 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 August Recess 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 this new ACCT Now Blog:  Don’t Miss These Grant Opportunities for Community Colleges This Fall!

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

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting applications to improve the the education and preparation of technicians for high-technology fields that are critical to the U.S. economy. The program supports community colleges and their partners in developing STEM curricula, training faculty, creating career pathways, and strengthening partnerships with industry to prepare students for skilled technical careers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, engineering, energy, cybersecurity, AI, and other emerging technologies. The NSF anticipates up to 80 awards with award size ranging from $475,000 to $7,500,000. The application deadline is October 1st, 2026 at 5:00 PM applicant's time. Learn more and apply here.

Advocacy Note: This program is a significant national priority for ACCT. View the letter ACCT and AACC sent to Congress requesting an increase in total funding for this program nationally. 

Community College Internship (CCI) Program - U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

The Department of Energy's Office of Science is accepting applications for the Community College Internship (CCI) program, a paid 10-week internship at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories and facilities. Students work alongside scientists and engineers on technical projects supporting DOE's science and technology mission, with internship terms offered in summer, fall, and spring. Applicants must be currently enrolled full- or part-time at a community college, have completed at least one semester with a minimum of 12 total credit hours (including 6 in STEM), and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Participants receive a weekly stipend of $650, along with travel reimbursement and housing support. The application deadline is September 30th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Learn more and apply here.

NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs

The National Science Foundation is accepting proposals for State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs, which will connect researchers and students to AI computing resources and build a skilled AI workforce. NSF anticipates about 10 awards ranging from $4 million to $12 million over five years, with only one award per state or multi-state region. Hubs are structured as consortia of institutions of higher education, including community colleges, working with industry, philanthropy, and state and local governments, and must address workforce development, faculty training, and regional partnerships alongside infrastructure. The full proposal deadline is November 4, 2026.  Learn more and apply here.

• September 4, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• September 21 - Accreditation Public Comment Period Closes
• September 30, 5 PM ET -  Community College Internship (CCI) Program
• October 1, 5 PM Applicant's Time -  Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live
• 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

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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