ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - June 22, 2026

Appropriations Stall in Senate; ED Program Transfers Continue

Appropriations

On Monday, June 22, the House returns from its recess but is not expected to advance additional appropriations measures in committee or on the floor this week, as committees prepare for upcoming markups later in the month. In the Senate, the appropriations process remains largely stalled. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (ME) has postponed full committee markups as negotiations continue over overall defense and nondefense spending levels. While hearings on agency budget requests continue, broader agreement on topline funding levels has not yet been reached.

With budget reconciliation no longer expected to be used for annual spending bills, Congress will need to rely on the regular appropriations process to reach bipartisan agreement on FY27 funding levels. Lawmakers continue to face a tight timeline to complete appropriations work before the end of the fiscal year and avoid a potential government funding lapse.

Bipartisan Congressional Skilled Workforce Caucus

On Thursday, June 18, Congressmen French Hill (AR) and Jonathan Jackson (IL) announced the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional Skilled Workforce Caucus. The caucus, co-chaired by Hill and Jackson, will focus on workforce development issues, including career and technical education, apprenticeships, workforce training, and strengthening talent pipelines in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, construction, aviation, technology, and energy. The relaunch comes as many industries face significant workforce shortages. It will serve as a forum for Members of Congress to coordinate on policies aimed at expanding workforce training opportunities, addressing skills gaps, and supporting employers’ workforce needs.

Click here to access the full press release.

U.S. Department of Education Program Transfers

On Tuesday, June 16, the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to transfer additional responsibilities to other federal agencies as part of the Trump Administration's broader effort to reduce the department's role. Under the proposal, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services would move to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), while the Office for Civil Rights would be transferred to the Department of Justice.

The Administration has previously shifted several education-related functions to other agencies, including workforce and career education programs to the Department of Labor (DOL) and management of the federal student loan portfolio to the Department of the Treasury. The latest changes would affect oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), administration of federal funding for students with disabilities, and enforcement of federal education-related civil rights laws.

The announcement has prompted questions from lawmakers, attorneys, and education stakeholders regarding the legal authority for the transfers absent congressional action, as well as how civil rights investigations, special education oversight, and compliance monitoring would be administered under the new structure. Some organizations have also raised concerns about maintaining program coordination and ensuring that receiving agencies have sufficient staffing, infrastructure, and subject-matter expertise to carry out these responsibilities. Congress would still need to approve any formal elimination of the Department of Education. 

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR) announced plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, alleging that the Department has exceeded its authority in transferring programs and responsibilities without congressional approval. The Administration has defended its efforts as part of a broader initiative to reform the federal role in education.

Click here to access the Department of Education press release.

AI Workforce Assessment and Research Enhancement Act

On Monday, June 22, House Education and Workforce Committee Tim Walberg (MI) introduced the AI Workforce Assessment and Research Enhancement (AWARE) Act, which aims to improve federal understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in workplaces and its effects on workers.

The bill would direct the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to collect and publish data on the use of AI in the workforce, including how it is influencing job functions, skills requirements, and labor market trends. The goal is to address current gaps in consistent, timely data to better inform workforce development, training, and education policy. It builds on a 2019 congressional directive for BLS to assess how automation, digitization, and AI are reshaping employment. That effort concluded that policymakers lack sufficient data to fully evaluate AI’s labor market impacts. 

The AWARE Act is intended to establish a more systematic approach to tracking how employers deploy AI and how it affects work tasks, whether through augmentation or automation.

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

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing

On Wednesday, June 24, at 10:15 a.m. ET the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold the hearing “Workforce Rewired: Modern Apprenticeships for a Modern Economy.” Witnesses for the subcommittee hearing have not yet been announced.

Click here to learn more and access a link to livestream the hearing.

U.S. Department of Education Final Rule

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education submitted its final higher education accountability rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, a key step before the regulation can be finalized. The rule would establish new performance measures for academic programs receiving federal student aid, including earnings-based thresholds intended to identify programs that leave graduates with lower earnings than comparable educational alternatives. 

Under the proposal, certain undergraduate programs could lose eligibility for federal aid if graduates' earnings do not exceed those of a typical high school graduate, while graduate programs would be measured against the earnings of typical bachelor's degree holders. The rule follows a negotiated rulemaking process involving higher education stakeholders and is currently awaiting final OMB review. 

Click here to access the final rule.

National Security Commission on Quantum Computing Act of 2026

On Wednesday, June 17, Congressmen Mike Lawler (NY) and Pat Ryan (NY) introduced the National Security Commission on Quantum Computing Act of 2026, which would establish an 11-member bipartisan independent commission to assess developments in quantum computing and provide recommendations to help maintain U.S. technological advantage in the field. The commission would examine implications of quantum computing for national security, economic competitiveness, scientific research, workforce development, and military applications. It would also evaluate foreign investments and advancements in quantum technologies, identify opportunities to strengthen research and public-private partnerships, assess workforce and education needs, and develop policy recommendations for Congress and the executive branch.

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