Webinar on Removing Funding from Campuses Supporting DEI, McMahon Moves Forward, Chavez-DeRemer Has Confirmation Hearing
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February 20, 2025
Leading the news this week:
ICYMI: ACCT Webinar “Education Department’s Civil Rights ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter of 2/14/25”
ACCT and the legal team from Saul Ewing took a deep dive into the Dear Colleague Letter from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights which declared race-based scholarships, cultural centers and even graduation ceremonies illegal. While the webinar does not constitute legal advice, the aim is to guide community college leaders in their discussions with their own counsel as well as provide concrete steps to support decision-making.
To access the webinar recording and related materials, please visit ACCT Connect at connect.acct.org. Membership login required.
If you do not have an ACCT Connect login, please email connect@acct.org or click the “request to join” button on connect.acct.org. For additional information on this Dear Colleague Letter, please visit now.acct.org for a summary blog post.
Latest News in Higher Education
Linda McMahon Moves Forward in the Confirmation Process
Today the Senate Committee on Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has voted to advance Linda McMahon's nomination as Secretary of Education. The next step is taking her nomination to the Senate floor for a final vote. The date for this vote is still to be determined.
Confirmation Hearing of Secretary of Labor Nominee, Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held the confirmation hearing for President Trump's nominee, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, to lead the Department of Education. Throughout the hearing, Chavez- DeRemer asserted her support for registered apprenticeships and articulated a vision where the business sector is to work alongside institutions of education to upskill local employees, especially in rural communities. Moreover, Chavez-Deremer mentioned numerous times the important role community colleges and technical colleges play in providing the American worker with skills to participate in the labor market. Finally, Chavez-DeRemer referenced her experience as a legislator in the House Education and Workforce Committee and mentioned she would have liked to see the reauthorization of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
The HELP Committee conducts confirmation hearing for President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. (Associated Press)
President Trump Backs One Funding Package
While both the House and Senate have Republican majorities, both presented different reconciliation strategies to fund President Trump's agenda. The House aims to produce a singular bill, in the meantime the Senate has started taking steps to draft two separate bills. While the two chambers were developing their strategies, President Trump appeared to be neutral; until this week when he gave support to the House's "one big beautiful bill." Regardless, the Senate is still set on moving forward with two budget resolutions; the first one already cleared by the Senate Budget Committee includes funding for energy, defense, and border policy. 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.
Federal Judge Permits DOGE Access to Department of Education Data
On Monday a federal judge denied the University of California Student Association's request for a temporary restraining order which would block the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) staffers from accessing student data; an action that this group claimed to be an invasion of privacy. The Department of Education said that employees involved in accessing student data were given an ethics and security training. The U.S. District Judge ruled that the group was unable to show how it would face "irreparable harm" thus siding with the Department of Education and DOGE.
U.S. Appeals Court Blocks SAVE Plan
On Tuesday the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Biden administration lacked the authority to implement student debt relief programming that would lower the monthly payments for borrowers, thus blocking former President Biden's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan.
On average, the public community college Pell Grant recipient is awarded $4,149, the lowest in comparison to Pell Grant averages from other institution types. Community colleges and tribal colleges tend to have the highest proportions of non-credit seeking enrollments in comparison to their counterparts.
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:
Memo From Office of Management and Budget Issues a Directive to Pause All Federal Assistance Programs
First Resource from Pathways Exploration Work to be Released at the National Legislative Summit
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