February 24, 2025

Leading the news this week: 

In order to provide the most timely updates, ACCT will now publish the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) updates twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents, and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the LAW network. To join, simply register here. 

Latest News in Higher Education

Federal Judge Blocks President Trump's DEI Executive Orders 

On Friday, a Baltimore federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump's executive orders aimed to end the federal government's involvement and support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming through a preliminary injunction. As a result, the Trump administration is blocked from ending or modifying federal contracts that the administration deems to be DEI-related. Judge Adam Abelson's ruling is based on the likelihood that the executive orders may have constitutional  violations which include violations of freedom of speech. This injunction comes a week after a Dear Colleague Letter was issued by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights stating that any institution of education part-taking in DEI programing would be subject to having their federal funding removed. 

Republican Budget Reconciliation Updates

President Trump appeared to be neutral in the debate over pushing the House plan of one funding package versus the Senate's two bill package. That was until last week when he gave support to the House's "one big beautiful bill." Even with the President endorsing the House plan, the Senate is still moving forward with two budget resolutions. A plan that Senate Budget Committee Chair, Lindsey Graham has referred to as plan B. While the House proposes one reconciliation plan that would address all of President Trump's priorities, the Senate is pushing a two reconciliation strategy that would first fund border security, and energy, and defense and then fund President Trump's tax cuts. 

Currently, the Senate passed the first budget resolution. Today the House Rules Committee is marking up the House Budget Resolution, if passed by the committee, the House will aim take it to the floor and vote on it this week. Passing a budget resolution is a precursor to budget reconciliation, a budgeting mechanism that permits passing a funding package with simple majorities in the House and Senate, thus making it a filibuster proof mechanism. 

It is important to note that having a plan B may provide Republicans with options should the House not have the expected number of votes for their budget resolution; yet for a reconciliation package to pass, it must look identical in both the House and Senate.

Federal Judge Prevents ED and OPM from Releasing Data to DOGE

In a case where six plaintiffs and five unions sued the Department of Treasury, Education (ED), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), U.S. federal judge ruled that ED and OPM may not release personally identifying information of the plaintiffs and the members of the five unions to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The judge noted that a different federal judge granted a preliminary injunction which blocked Treasury from giving DOGE access to personal data. While the plaintiffs' goal was to block DOGE from accessing anyone's personal data, the ruling only denied DOGE access to all the plaintiffs' data, which when accounting the membership of the five unions and the six plaintiffs this amounts to approximately 2 million people whose data cannot be accessed by DOGE.

This ruling comes a week after a different federal judge denied the University of California Student Association's request for a temporary restraining order which would block the DOGE staffers from accessing student data.

Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency Deadline Extended to September 30, 2025

The Department of Education has provided a seven month extension for institutions to submit and correct submitted information for gainful employment and financial value transparency regulations to September 30, 2025. While it is unclear what the Trump administration intends to do regarding GE/FVT regulations, the Department of Education does not plan to take enforcement or punitive measures against institutions that as of now were not able to complete reporting.  

Grant Opportunities

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

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:

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