This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional and Executive activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
The House and Senate are in Session this week.
FY 2026 Appropriations
Senate Republicans still hope to pass several FY26 appropriations bills before the end of the year, including the Defense bill, as well as the Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, and Commerce-Justice-Science bills by packaging them into a minibus. Congress must pass the remaining nine appropriations bills or pass another continuing resolution by January 30 to avoid a second government shutdown.
FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act
Congressional leaders released the text of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Sunday. The $900 billion defense bill passed the House on Wednesday in a 312–112 vote. The Senate has voted to move forward with the bill, and a cloture vote will likely happen early next week. It is expected to pass in the Senate with a wide margin. President Trump has said he would sign the NDAA when it reaches the White House.
Key provisions include new restrictions on Chinese investment, continued aid to Ukraine, and the repeal of select sanctions on Syria. The bill also prioritizes partnerships with higher education institutions to advance research in hypersonics, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. Additionally, the NDAA prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from unilaterally modifying indirect costs rates for institutions of higher education. It also bars institutions conducting DOD-funded research from entering into contracts with certain foreign entities.
Bills Introduced
The College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R. 6502) was introduced by Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Young Kim (R-CA). This bill would require institutions to use a standardized format for all financial aid offers. Reps. McClain and Kim said that the primary goal of this bill is to provide more transparency to students so that they can make informed decisions about college and their future. The Education and Workforce Committee passed the bill on Thursday. Read the press release here. Read the bill text here.
The Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R. 6498) was introduced by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Bob Onder (R-MO), and Lori Trahan (D-MA). This bill would create a Universal Net Price Calculator and improve the College Scorecard to provide more information about specific programs of study. Together, these new features would allow students to receive a personalized cost estimate and compare costs and financial aid at different institutions and programs. The Education and Workforce Committee passed the bill on Thursday. Read the press release here. Read the bill text here.
The Fast Track To and Through College Act (S. 3359) was introduced by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN). This bill would create a federal grant program to expand opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school and improve the process for students to transfer credits to college. This bill would also allow Pell grants to cover dual-enrollment costs for students in order to expand access to needs-based income. The Senators hope this bill will lower college costs by allowing students to graduate quicker by earning college credits while still in high school. Read the press release here. Read the bill text here.
Hearings
On December 10, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled “The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership.” The Committee discussed the Genesis Mission, which was launched through a recent Executive Order and is designed to bring together the Department of Energy’s 17 National Laboratories, universities, and industry partners to create a national discovery platform. The initiative aims to integrate the world’s most powerful supercomputers, AI systems, and quantum technologies to generate new datasets for training advanced AI models. Watch the hearing here.
Executive Branch activities of interest
ED Launches New Earning Indicator
The Department of Education (ED) launched a new earnings indicator intended to complement the FAFSA process and provide students with information about a school’s post-graduation earnings. This earnings indicator will allow students to make a more informed decision about whether a colleges’ graduates earn above or below the average high school graduate. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that this new feature “will empower prospective students to make data-driven decisions before they are saddled with debt.” Read the full press release here.
ED Ends SAVE Plan
The Department of Education (ED) announced an agreement with the State of Missouri that will end the Biden-Era Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. The SAVE Plan promised expedited loan forgiveness and cut many borrowers’ monthly payments to $0. If the agreement is approved by the court, borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan will have to select a new repayment plan to begin repayment of their student loans. Read the full press release here.
ED Submits RFI to Update Accreditation Handbook
The Department of Education (ED) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on how to improve the Accreditation Handbook. The agency aims to determine how the handbook could help reduce college costs, incentivize intellectual diversity, and better support accrediting agencies in evaluating higher education institutions. Interested parties have 45 days to submit comments on the proposed guidance for accreditors. Read the full press release here.