ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - November 2, 2026

Midterms Set Stage for Year-End Appropriations Negotiations

Appropriations

Congress is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday, November 9, following tomorrow’s midterm elections, with federal funding the primary focus during the post-election lame-duck session. The current continuing resolution (CR) maintains federal funding at FY26 levels and expires on December 11. Congress has yet to complete any of the twelve FY27 appropriations bills in the Senate, while the House has passed three. The House Appropriations Committee has approved its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill, but it has not yet advanced to a full House vote.

Lawmakers need to reach an agreement on FY27 funding before the December deadline, either through individual appropriations bills, a larger spending package, or another short-term CY extending current funding into 2027. The outcome of the midterm elections will likely influence negotiations and whether lawmakers seek to resolve funding before the end of the 119th Congress or leave them for the new Congress in January.

U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is recruiting employees from the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) to fill positions supporting adult education and workforce development programs, raising questions about the future staffing and structure of the office. Between June and September, DOL posted at least 25 positions related to adult education, including work associated with the Perkins grant program, which provides approximately $1.4 billion annually to support career and technical education programs at high schools, community colleges, and technical colleges nationwide.

Adam Flynn, former Director of Policy, Research and Evaluation in the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the Department of Education, recently joined the U.S. Department of Labor as Deputy Administrator of the Office of Workforce Investment within the Employment and Training Administration. In this new role he will “oversee the Division of Youth Services and the Division of Adult Services and Governance, helping expand workforce opportunities and strengthen pathways to economic success for youth and adults across the country.” 

According to former ED employees, several OCTAE staff members have been encouraged to apply for the new positions at DOL. However, some of the positions reportedly pay less than current OCTAE salaries, raising questions about whether DOL intends to bring over the entire office or hire only select employees. OCTAE’s responsibilities have technically been transferred to DOL through an interagency agreement as part of the Administration’s efforts to dismantle ED, but a permanent transfer of the office requires congressional approval. The recruitment effort has also raised concerns among federal employee representatives about the legality and implications of transferring personnel between agencies. At the same time, some Democratic lawmakers have expressed openness to greater coordination between the two agencies on career and technical education, suggesting there may be bipartisan interest in aspects of the proposed restructuring.

U.S. Department of Education

On Friday, October 30, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) published its final rule to reform the college accreditation system, completing the process ahead of the November 1 deadline established under the Higher Education Act. The rule, which takes effect July 1, 2027, is designed to increase competition among accrediting agencies, strengthen accountability for student outcomes, and reduce regulatory burdens on colleges and universities.

The final rule removes barriers to establishing new accrediting agencies and makes it easier for institutions to change accreditors or work with multiple agencies. It also strengthens expectations for evaluating student achievement, including course completion, licensure pass rates, and economic returns, while requiring accreditors to consider institutional policies related to academic freedom and intellectual diversity. The rule is a key component of the Trump Administration’s efforts to reform higher education oversight and address what it views as ideological bias within colleges and universities.

Click here to access the final rule in the Federal Register.

Education Secretary Speaking Tour

On Wednesday, October 28, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon gave the fourth and final speech in her “The Next 250: American Education” series at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Addressing students, educators, and local leaders, McMahon outlined the Administration’s efforts to restore public confidence in higher education and advance its vision for the future of American education.

She called on colleges and universities to prioritize merit, eliminate ideological considerations in hiring and admissions, and promote intellectual diversity. She also highlighted the Administration’s higher education accountability agenda and commended Vanderbilt for its reform efforts, particularly its Declaration of First Principles, which emphasizes research, critical thinking, and aligning education and research with the national interest.

The four-part series highlighted the Administration’s priorities across K-12, workforce, and higher education. Previous stops included Utah, where McMahon discussed K-12 education and federal funding priorities; Las Vegas, where she highlighted workforce development initiatives, including Workforce Pell and Registered Apprenticeships; and Tempe, Arizona, where she addressed support for historically Black colleges and universities and community colleges, as well as changes to federal student aid programs.

Click here to access the full press release.