This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional, Executive Branch and Judicial Branch activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Activities of Interest
Floor Activity
This week, the Senate resumed business on February 18. The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce and former Senator Kelly Loeffler as administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The House was not in session this week and will return next Monday, February 24.
FY25 Appropriations & Reconciliation
On February 19, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told Punchbowl News that the House will vote on its FY25 budget resolution next week. Also on February 19, President Trump weighed in with his support for the House’s one-bill strategy, as opposed to the Senate’s two-bill approach. The House budget resolution includes instructions for committees to add revenue or make cuts. The proposal “mandates a $300 billion increase in spending on defense, immigration enforcement and border security” and requires “at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over a decade,” according to reporting from Bloomberg. Meanwhile, the Senate adopted its budget resolution by a vote of 52-48 early this morning, February 21.
In the meantime, no significant progress has been made on an agreement for FY25. As a reminder, the government funding deadline is Friday, March 14.
House Oversight Committee Launches Probe of Section 117 Foreign Gift Reporting
On February 19, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and former House Education and Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced a probe into the Department of Education’s enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. Section 117 governs institutions’ reporting of foreign gifts and contracts. In a letter to acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter, Reps. Comer and Foxx wrote that, “administrative enforcement and monitoring of Section 117 reporting has been ‘uneven at best.’” Reps. Comer and Foxx have asked for a list of compliance investigations opened since January 20, 2021, as well as any referrals of non-compliant institutions to the attorney general. See the full letter here.
Bills Introduced
Grant Integrity and Border Security Act (H.R. 245) – Introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), this bill would require applicants for federal grants to certify that they are not violating section 274(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which pertains to the unlawful transportation and harboring of undocumented individuals. The measure seeks to ensure compliance with immigration laws before federal funds are awarded.
Student Visa Security Improvement Act (H.R. 414) – Introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), this bill seeks to enhance background checks and monitoring procedures for foreign students entering the U.S. on student visas. The legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen oversight to prevent potential security risks associated with international students studying in the country.
Foreign Influence Disclosure for Visa Applicants (H.R. 460) – Introduced by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL), this bill would require visa applicants to disclose whether they receive financial support from the Government of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.
Investing in Our Communities Act (H.R. 1255) – Seeks to reinstate advance refunding, a financial tool that allows public institutions to refinance bonds at lower interest rates. This provision, which was eliminated under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would enable public universities to save on interest payments, freeing up funds for infrastructure projects and economic development. The bill was introduced by Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).
Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences (HEARTS) Act (H.R. 1291) – sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), would amend the Public Health Service Act to prioritize nonanimal research methods for projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. Read Rep. Calvert’s press release on the bill here.
Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act (H.R. 1282) – reintroduced by Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), prohibits federal funding for institutions of higher education that implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The legislation closely mirrors Florida state law.
Hearings This Week
At the February 19 Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) questioned VA Deputy Secretary nominee Paul R. Lawrence on several key issues, particularly the Indianapolis VA Medical Center replacement project, which is slated for $206 million in planning and design funding next year. Sen. Banks also challenged the VA’s lack of transparency in its Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, arguing that poor communication and failure to standardize operations have contributed to ongoing system failures. Additionally, he criticized the slow progress of the Million Veteran Program (MVP), noting that despite 12 years of DNA sample collection, sequencing and research results remain lacking. Lawrence acknowledged these concerns, pledging to investigate delays, improve transparency, and ensure better implementation of VA initiatives. See a recording of the hearing here.
Additionally, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing on February 19 for Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor. Chavez-DeRemer emphasized her commitment to workforce training, apprenticeships, and economic policies that support both workers and businesses. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) played a key role in the hearing, focusing on Indiana’s manufacturing sector and pressing Chavez-DeRemer on how she plans to support displaced workers and promote domestic job growth amid foreign competition. Chavez-DeRemer committed to prioritizing workforce development initiatives and working with Congress to strengthen American industry. Watch a recording of the hearing here.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted on Thursday, February 20, to advance Linda McMahon’s nomination as Secretary of Education. McMahon’s nomination was approved by a party-line vote of 12-11 and will now proceed to the full Senate for confirmation.
Executive Branch Activities of Interest
Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Dear Colleague Letter
On Friday, February 14, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights released a “Dear Colleague” letter outlining universities’ obligations related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard. The letter stated that the SFFA decision would be interpreted more broadly than just admissions decisions.
According to the letter, the Department “intends to take appropriate measures to assess compliance” with this new interpretation “no later than 14 days” from the date of the letter’s issuance (February 14, 2025). It shared that “Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding.”
Department of Education Terminates IES Contracts
On February 17, the Department of Education announced the cancellation of over $600 million in federal grants for teacher training programs, citing concerns over funding “divisive ideologies”. The Department of Education stated that the grants supported initiatives related to critical race theory, DEI, social justice activism, and anti-racism.
This move follows previous cuts, including a February 12 termination of $900 million in Institute of Education Sciences contracts, impacting public education research and data collection, and the February 14 elimination of $369 million in contracts with Regional Educational Laboratories and Equity Assistance Centers, which supported student performance improvement.
Judicial Branch Activities of Interest
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Student Data Lawsuit
In University of California Student Association v. Carter, students and advocacy groups are suing the DOGE over its alleged unauthorized access to sensitive student financial aid data. A federal judge on Monday denied a request from college students to prevent DOGE from accessing U.S. Department of Education databases. In his order, the judge called fears that DOGE’s entry into the Education Department’s internal systems could lead to identity theft and targeted immigration enforcement “entirely conjectural.”