July 16, 2026

Leading the News this Week

On July 15th,  House Education and Workforce Committee voted on party lines for a 10-bill package, Less Bureaucracy, Better Education, designed to codify President Trump’s agenda to close the Department of Education (ED) and redistribute its responsibilities across the federal government including the Departments of Labor, Treasury, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the committee’s action, calling it a significant step toward cementing the Trump administration’s broader effort to right-size the federal role in education.

ED has already entered into 14 interagency agreements transferring functions and staff across several offices to other federal departments and agencies. However, formally closing the Department of Education would still require an act of Congress. The committee rejected amendments to restore terminated grants in Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), and to protect specific functions and programs. Notably, the markup did not include legislation to move special education or civil rights out of ED.

Read on for more news this week...

News in Higher Education

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) Highlights the Importance of Workforce Pell Grants

Thank you to Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) for highlighting the importance of Workforce Pell Grants during today's U.S. Department of Labor nomination hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) nomination hearing for Secretary of Labor. Senator Marshall highlighted the critical role community colleges play in preparing students for in-demand careers, and thanked his alma mater, Butler County Community College.

As Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling noted, community colleges are “one of the biggest pieces of this puzzle,” helping employers and small businesses design curriculum that gives students a direct pathway from high school into the trades and other high-paying careers. 

View the video and share at ACCT's LinkedIn and X pages. Watch the full hearing here.

Register Your College for the 2026 Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) by July 31

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy's Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) connects college students and recent graduates with disabilities to federal careers. College staff register their school for the WRP each spring to enable their students to join a talent database available to employers across the Federal Government. There is no cost for schools to participate.

The WRP application process is coordinated by college career, disability, veteran, or student services offices. This past year, more than 400 colleges and universities participated in the program, and new schools join each year. To participate, schools must be accredited in the United States.

Register your college by July 31, 2026 at WRP.gov!

Legislators Guide to Workforce Pell Highlights State Implementation Role

Workforce Pell, enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, workforce-aligned education and training programs beginning July 1, 2026. The program creates a new state-federal partnership in which the federal government funds awards and sets eligibility and accountability rules, while states determine which programs qualify and collect data tied to performance measures.

State legislatures will play a central role in implementation, including establishing approval processes, assigning agency responsibilities, coordinating with workforce and education partners, and strengthening postsecondary and workforce data systems. It also cautions that many existing short-term programs may not initially qualify, and that Workforce Pell’s success will depend on coordination with state investments, federal workforce programs, and student supports.

Congressional Visit Spotlight

Thank you to Northwestern Michigan College (MI) for Hosting U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI-01)

On July 9, U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI-01) presented Northwestern Michigan College with a Congressional proclamation in honor of the school's 75th anniversary.

If you have hosted a congressional visit recently, please send us photos with captions, a press release, social media posts, and/or any other recaps. ACCT will share these examples with community college leaders and congressional offices to encourage more campus visits and engagement.

If you have questions on hosting a future visit with your congressional delegation, please contact PublicPolicy@acct.org 

U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (MI-01) with Northwestern Michigan College Leaders including NMC President Nick Nissley, NMC trustees and NMC Foundation Board trustees.

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. 

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 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. 

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