ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - July 20, 2026

Workforce Pell Implementation Begins; House GOP Releases Short-Term Funding Plan

Appropriations

On Friday, July 17, House Republican leaders released legislative text for a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend federal funding for most federal agencies through December 4, after the November midterm elections. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA) is expected to bring the legislation to the House floor for a vote this week. 

The measure follows a departure from the regular bipartisan appropriations process and does not include additional policy riders or the SAVE America Act, a proposed election and voter identification measure. House Republican leaders have indicated they plan to pursue components of that legislation separately. The funding proposal is expected to prompt negotiations in both chambers, including debates over immigration enforcement funding and potential policy provisions. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the absence of additional provisions addressing federal immigration enforcement, while others have expressed interest in avoiding another government shutdown. 

The Senate will also need to consider the measure before the September 30 funding deadline.

Click here to access the bill.

Workforce Pell

While the Workforce Pell Grant program fully launches today, states have been racing for weeks to be the first to get Department of Education (ED) approval for their programs. Governors and state workforce boards have unprecedented control over which programs are eligible for the new federal student aid, and at least two programs have officially reached the agency, a critical stage of approval, according to Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. He declined to say which two states submitted the first applications. 

The Trump administration has characterized the program as a centerpiece of its workforce agenda — a significant part of efforts to address labor shortages, create a pipeline for high demand fields, and better align higher education and the workforce.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has already approved two programs — Douglas Education Center’s and Rosedale Technical College’s commercial drivers license courses — to submit their certifications to the federal government for final approval.

North Carolina is also among the first states competing to get its programs approved. The state was an early leader due to a March Executive Order from Governor Josh Stein which kicked off the process of building the state’s new workforce education system. As a result, 29 community colleges submitted more than 116 programs for review, one of the largest early responses in the country. 

Many states, including Maryland, Minnesota and Georgia, are focused on making sure they can approve programs that will meet federal metrics for demonstrating that students get a true return on their investment in education. They are using 2026 as a pilot year, but have either now launched their applications or plan to do so in the coming months. 

By contrast, California does not expect to launch applications until 2027 as its legislature works through legislation and implementation details. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, July 16, U.S. Department of Education (ED) Under Secretary Nicholas Kent and Department of Labor (DOL) Assistant Secretary Henry Mack highlighted the agencies' ongoing collaboration on workforce development and the implementation of the new Workforce Pell Grant program during the Jobs for the Future Horizons Summit. The officials emphasized close coordination between DOL and ED as they oversee workforce training initiatives and align education programs with labor market needs.

They also discussed efforts to ensure Workforce Pell supports high-quality training programs while expanding access to registered apprenticeships and other workforce pathways. They noted that DOL and ED are working together to align education and workforce policies, strengthen connections between postsecondary education and employment, and prepare workers for changing labor market demands, including those associated with artificial intelligence.

Click here to read Governor Stein’s Executive Order.

Senate HELP Committee Labor Secretary Nomination

On Thursday, July 16, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Senators questioned Sonderling on a range of issues, including apprenticeships, workforce development, artificial intelligence, retirement security, labor regulations, and DOL’s expanded responsibilities under its workforce development partnership with the Department of Education.

Apprenticeships were a central focus of the hearing, with lawmakers from both parties discussing ways to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities, strengthen employer participation, and improve workforce pathways through community colleges and other training providers. Sonderling highlighted the administration's workforce initiatives, including registered apprenticeships, Workforce Pell implementation, and efforts to prepare workers for the growing use of artificial intelligence through employer engagement, workforce data collection, and AI-related education initiatives.

Committee members also discussed DOL's assumption of certain education-related responsibilities under its interagency agreement with the Department of Education, with some senators raising questions about the department's capacity to administer those programs. 

The Committee is scheduled to vote on Sonderling's nomination on Thursday, July 23, after which it could advance to the full Senate for consideration.

House Education and Workforce Committee Department of Education Legislation

On Wednesday, July 15, the House Education and Workforce Committee advanced a package of 10 bills that would begin codifying the Trump administration's plan to restructure the U.S. Department of Education (ED) by transferring many of its core responsibilities to other federal agencies. The legislation represents a significant step toward implementing the Administration's proposal to reduce the Department's role, though eliminating the department would require congressional approval.

The bills would transfer federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and student loan servicing, to the Treasury Department; move career and technical education, adult education, K-12 education programs, and several higher education programs to the Department of Labor; shift international education programs and foreign gift reporting oversight to the State Department; transfer child care for student parents, family engagement, and foreign medical accreditation responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services; and relocate tribal education programs to the Department of the Interior. Several measures include transition timelines and implementation requirements.

Democrats slammed the proposal, insisting it erects additional administrative and financial hurdles and erodes faith in the federal government. And while they submitted a flurry of amendments, all of them failed. 

The package was approved largely along party-line votes following an extended committee markup during which members debated the proposed restructuring and its potential impact on federal education programs. The bills now await consideration by the full House. 

While the committee's action marks an important legislative step, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray has indicated there is no way she will let the bills move forward in the Senate.

Click here to access more information on the bills and the markup.

Senate HELP Committee Nominees Advance

On Wednesday, July 15, the HELP Committee advanced President Trump’s nominees for key federal labor positions, including Brett Matsumoto to serve as Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and James Macy to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The committee also approved the reappointment of current NLRB member David Prouty for another term. Matsumoto, a career BLS researcher who currently serves on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, was approved by a 12–11 vote, while Macy was approved by the same margin. Prouty received broader bipartisan support, with a 17–6 vote.

The nominations come after the Administration removed the previous BLS commissioner and two NLRB officials, leading to questions during the confirmation process about the independence of the agencies. During his hearing, Matsumoto stated that BLS data should remain objective and free from political influence. If confirmed by the full Senate, Macy’s appointment would provide the NLRB with a three-member Republican majority, enabling the board to issue decisions and potentially revisit labor policies adopted during the previous administration. Prouty’s reappointment follows the Senate’s common practice of considering Democratic and Republican NLRB nominees together to facilitate the confirmation process.

Click here to access the full hearing on Sonderling’s nomination.

Click here to access more information on this week’s HELP Committee vote.

House Education and Workforce Committee Markup

On Tuesday, July 21, the House Education and Workforce Committee is scheduled to mark up 10 bills addressing education, workforce development, labor, and health care policy. The legislation includes measures related to Title IX, parental notification and consent in schools, K-12 artificial intelligence literacy, skills-based hiring and credential recognition, youth fitness, employee stock ownership, rural health care workforce development, heat safety standards in the workplace, union governance, and franchise business regulations. Committee approval would advance the bills for possible consideration by the full House. 

Click here to access more information on the markup.

House Education and Workforce Committee Field Hearing

On Friday, July 24, the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold the field hearing “Building an AI-Ready America: How AI is Creating Opportunities Across America’s Workforce” in Augusta, Georgia — its eighth hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence (AI). Hearing witnesses include Manus Bio Founder and CEO Ajikumar Parayil, RT Farms Inc. Farmer and General Manager Brad Edenfield, and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Professor and Department Chair in AI and Health Dr. Jeffery Talbert.

Click here for more information on the field hearing.

SBA Student Loan Program

The Administration is considering the creation of a new student loan program that would be administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), reflecting broader efforts to shift some education-related responsibilities away from the U.S. Department of Education. The proposal remains in the early stages, with officials discussing potential models with higher education finance stakeholders and private lenders. It intends to address potential financing gaps created by new federal student loan borrowing limits that took effect on July 1, 2026. Under the proposal, private lenders would issue loans backed by a partial federal guarantee through the SBA, providing an option between traditional private loans and federal student loans. Officials have also indicated the program could prioritize students pursuing education and training in high- demand workforce fields.

Details have not been finalized, including the size of the federal guarantee, borrower eligibility, and program structure. The SBA has not formally announced plans to launch such a program but has acknowledged its ongoing support for Administration workforce and education initiatives.

Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats Act

On Tuesday, July 14, Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats (PATH) Act to expand pre- apprenticeship pathways, strengthen career pipelines, and address labor shortages in the building trades. The legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to award grants to eligible entities, including workforce development boards, employers, unions, community-based organizations, educational institutions, small businesses, and veterans’ organizations, to support pre-apprenticeship programs. Grant funding would support training, curriculum development, assessments, and program evaluation to help participants gain the skills needed to enter registered apprenticeship programs. The bill would also require grantees to prioritize outreach and training opportunities for veterans, women, and individuals from low-income communities.

Click here to access the press release and the full bill.

Building Community in America Act

On Tuesday, July 14, Senators John Curtis (UT) and Mark Kelly (AZ) introduced the bipartisan Building Community in America Act to expand opportunities for Americans to serve as mentors, volunteers, coaches, teachers, and community leaders. The legislation seeks to increase participation in national service programs among underrepresented populations, with a particular focus on recruiting more men into mentoring, youth development, education, workforce development, conservation, disaster response, public safety, and other community service roles. The bill would prioritize national service programs that recruit and train underrepresented participants, expand service opportunities across a range of community-based initiatives, and encourage greater civic engagement through volunteering and mentorship. 

Click here to access the full press release on the bill.