Policy Watch

Given rapid developments in the legislative, policy, and regulatory environments, 黑料吃瓜王 is providing weekly updates on key actions taken by Congress and the Administration. To quickly find relevant updates, use the dropdown menus to search by topic or date.

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On October 2, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) letter to the U.S. Department of Education regarding its negotiated rulemaking process on the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The letter urges the Department to ensure that the health professions workforce is included in the definition of "professional degrees."
Senator Murray (D-WA), Representative DeLauro (D-CT-03), and Senator Baldwin (D-WI) released a statement to reverse unilateral funding cuts to critical education programs.
The Department of Education and Department of Labor move to through staff detail, integrated state plan portal, and centralizing program funds.
On August 28, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a led by the American Council on Education (ACE) urging the Department of Education to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill "in a way that fully considers the impact on all stakeholders, including students, families, institutions of higher education, and current and future student loan borrowers." Among ACE's recommendations was the creation of a comprehensive list of "professional degree programs" that includes nursing.
On August 25, 黑料吃瓜王 submitted comments to the Department of Education urging the Department to modernize the existing definition of “professional degree” under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing degrees. 黑料吃瓜王 also signed onto related communications issued by the Nursing Community Coalition and a broad coalition of healthcare providers and programs.
A federal judge has declared the attempt to bar diversity programs unlawful.
Secretary of Education McMahon directs the National Center for Education Statistics to for institutions of higher education that will allow Americans to ensure race-based preferences are not used in university admissions processes, in accordance with a new Presidential Memoranda, .
Supreme Court at the Department of Education as President Trump seeks to close the agency.
黑料吃瓜王 joined with the American Council on Education and other national associations in in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to subvert higher education to the federal government’s political leadership.
On May 30, 黑料吃瓜王 signed on to a letter with other higher education associations urging the State Department to make any pause on student visa processing as short as possible, cut wait times, and streamline the process for student visa applicants.
On May 14, 黑料吃瓜王 joined with a broad coalition of higher education organizations in a statement calling upon the Trump Administration to protect and renew the longstanding partnership between the federal government and colleges and universities.
The Department of Education for colleges and universities.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Announce .
U.S. Department of Education and Loan Consolidation Applications for Borrowers.
黑料吃瓜王 signed on to a Request for Information for the Trump Administration's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan relating to the use of AI across the higher education landscape.
U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) following the February 14 that reiterated schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.
U.S. Department of Education Issues More Details About , including a .
as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

Research!America will host a webinar on October 28 from 12:00-1:00 pm (ET) in support of the Americans for Medical Research Campaign, focusing on strategies for effective communication by scientists to the public. .
On September 22, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter with 164 organizations in support of the Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs (JAG), thanking appropriators and urging them to strengthen language in the final spending bills supporting JAG’s work and prohibiting the Office of Management and Budget from instituting arbitrary caps on federal support for research costs.
On September 17, 黑料吃瓜王 joined NINR in celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a on Advancing Nursing Science to Improve Health for All: NINR’s Impact.
Research!America launched the Americans for Medical Research , a campaign to share stories from researchers, clinicians, and patients about the importance of medical research in their lives.
CMS initiated the $50 billion .
HHS's MAHA Commission released a new report, the .
The Department of Education and federal partners to help colleges and universities mitigate foreign threats to research.
GAO states Trump by withholding NIH funds.
Register for NINR's Advancing Nursing Science to Improve Health for All: NINR’s Impact.
On July 25, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter led by the Committee for Education Funding, Coalition on Human Needs, Coalition for Health Funding, and Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The letter urges the Committees to increase funding for various health, education, and workforce programs in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
NIH director is replacing his top .
On June 25, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a coalition letter with leading healthcare associations urging Senate leadership to reject proposed cuts to Medicaid in the Committee’s budget reconciliation bill given the impact on women’s and child healthcare.
More than 460 laid-off CDC employees are .
Last week, a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the National Institutes of Health terminated earlier this year.
Becker's Hospital Review released an by state and the.
NINR announces to celebrate 40 years of solutions-oriented nursing research.
On June 5, 黑料吃瓜王 joined with a broad coalition of organizations in a letter urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to reject the $18 billion in cuts to the National Institutes of Health proposed in the President's budget and work with the Administration on a different path forward.
On June 10, 黑料吃瓜王 signed on along with other national nursing organizations expressing strong concerns over HHS Secretary Kennedy’s decision to dismiss all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) identifying key drivers behind the childhood chronic disease crisis.
On May 22, the House of Representatives passed the President's , sending it on to the Senate.
On May 14, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) urging them to support at least $420.85 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Environmental Health in the FY 2026 LHHS-ED Appropriations bill.
On May 13, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies urging them to reject the elimination of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was outlined in the Administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal.
On May 6, 黑料吃瓜王 published a response to the message urging the Administration to protect funding for nursing education and workforce programs.
The National Science Foundation announced the implementation of .
On April 29, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto letters from American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners to the House and Senate supporting funding for the Indian Health Professions Account and Indian Health Service.
黑料吃瓜王 released a statement of concern regarding the President's proposed budget for FY 2026 that includes across the board cuts to federal agencies, including HHS, NIH, HRSA, and the Department of Education.
Colleges with will no longer be eligible for NIH grants.
On April 25, 黑料吃瓜王 signed on to a coalition letter urging Congress to reject the proposed HHS budget cuts and ensure that essential programs are adequately funded.
On April 22, 黑料吃瓜王 joined with other higher education leaders to better serve the American people while rejecting undue government intrusion and the coercive use of public research funding.
From Insider Higher Ed:
A federal judge issued an order research funding from NIH.
黑料吃瓜王 Signs on to Legal Challenge to New NIH Funding Guidance
黑料吃瓜王 Statement on New NIH Guidance Limiting Indirect Costs for Research Grants

On September 17, 黑料吃瓜王 submitted comments to the Department of Education expressing the importance of, and continued support for, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, particularly for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Additionally, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a related letter led by the American Council on Education.
U.S. Secretary of Education Confirms of the 2026–27 FAFSA Form.
The Department of Education issued new proposed rules.
Also on July 14, 黑料吃瓜王 sent a letter to Representative Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) thanking them for introducing the Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt (POST GRAD) Act (H.R.3711/S.1948).
U.S. Department of Education .
On June 27, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto an American Council on Education letter to Senate leadership expressing concerns about cuts to federal student aid and new taxes on higher education institutions proposed in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bills.
On June 17, 黑料吃瓜王 led a healthcare community sign on letter advocating for higher education provisions in the Senate budget reconciliation process. This includes preserving subsidized loans for undergraduates, retaining the Grad PLUS Program, increasing the proposed aggregate limit for unsubsidized federal loans, and preserving other federal loan programs.
Last week, Senator Alex Padilla (CA) and Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) to help students afford advanced education by restoring graduate students’ eligibility for receiving subsidized federal loans.
U.S. Department of Education and proactive steps to ensure American taxpayer dollars spent on federal student aid programs are used responsibly.
The Department of Education released a of their obligations to help struggling borrowers.
Department of Education to , starting May 5.
The 2025 application cycle closes on Thursday, April 24, 7:30 pm (ET).
The Small Business Administration, the agency newly responsible for overseeing student loans, .
HHS has published a since January 2025, including information of recipient institutions, projects funded, and award totals.
An Executive Order creates for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

As we enter the second week of the government shutdown, 黑料吃瓜王 continues to monitor and encourage members to "Share Your Voice" on any impacts this shutdown is having in your district/state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously recommended that be determined by individual decision-making and adopted new for the varicella (chickenpox) vaccination for young children
On September 19, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter led by the Alliance for Aging Research urging the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend the full schedule of vaccines and ensure access and patient choice.
On September 12, 黑料吃瓜王 submitted comments to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule; 黑料吃瓜王 also sign onto comments led by the APRN Workgroup to CMS.
On September 15, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter lead by Voices for Non-Opioid Choices regarding the implementation of the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation ("NOPAIN") Act and urging Congress to ensure patients can access all FDA-approved non-opioid treatment options that are used in the post-surgical setting and that such products qualify for separate payment under the NOPAIN Act.
On August 19, 黑料吃瓜王 joined a healthcare community sign-on letter to the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees urging reauthorizing of Title VII Health Professions and Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs before the end of fiscal year 2025 on September 30.
On August 19, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition letter to all members of Congress urging them to take action on top legislative and appropriations priorities impacting our nursing schools, faculty, students, and researchers.
On August 11, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a letter led by Families USA urging HHS Secretary Kennedy to preserve the structure and membership of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
Lawsuit over heads to the Supreme Court.
On July 14, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition letter thanking the Senators and Representatives who introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593).
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators published an of the reconciliation bill signed into law July 4.
On June 23, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition letter thanking Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) for introducing the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R.3170), and supporting its passage this Congress.
On June 9, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter thanking Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2531/S.1232).
黑料吃瓜王 is working with congressional offices to share information and communicate the value of NINR and nursing science. 黑料吃瓜王 was proud to see Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), highlight the importance of NINR at the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing with the NIH Director (see comments ).
On May 28, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter thanking the leaders of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses for introducing a bipartisan and bicameral resolution honoring National Nurses Week.
On May 15, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a halting the Department of Energy from "implementing, instituting, maintaining, or giving effect to the Rate Cap Policy in any form with respect to the IHEs (institutions of higher education)."
Members of both Congressional Nursing Caucuses celebrating National Nurses Week.
On April 17, 黑料吃瓜王 joined with other nursing associations in urging Congress to support Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs.
Congress passed the , funding the government through the end of FY2025 and avoiding a government shutdown.
House Republicans released a proposed through September 30.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the appointment of to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with meetings to be held September 18 and 19.
CDC director , and other agency leaders resign.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revives on Safer Childhood Vaccines.
This week, HHS launched its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) "" tracker.
HHS will begin a activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
A new Executive Order, , will give political appointees oversight of the administration of federal grants.
The Department of Education to implement President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
U.S. Department of Education announces of higher education provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a detailing impact of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” on health care in America.
On May 12, the President mandating that drug manufacturers begin offering American consumers the most-favored-nation lowest price on pharmaceuticals.
Secretary Kennedy defending the large-scale reduction in force at HHS.
Senate to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
President Trump to to be CDC Director.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in as the .

On July 30, 黑料吃瓜王 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging full support for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the NINR in FY 2026. This letter comes as 黑料吃瓜王 Advocates sent nearly 400 messages in three days to their Senators urging support for these critical nursing education, workforce, and research programs.
黑料吃瓜王 was proud to join the Coalition for Health Funding’s Hill Day on July 24 to advocate for the future of public health, including support for all Title VIII Programs and NINR.
HHS preventive services task force meeting.
黑料吃瓜王 has heard from some members that funding for both the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program and the Nursing Faculty Loan Program has been cancelled. If you have received a notice of cancellation, please share your experience with us.The application is open through July 3.
黑料吃瓜王 needs you to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593). This legislation would help ensure that pathways into nursing remain strong, and patients maintain access to high-quality nursing care.
On May 27, 黑料吃瓜王 joined with a coalition of nursing associations in response to an FTC request for comment on reducing anti-competitive regulatory barriers. The comment letter highlights regulatory barriers that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training and suggests approaches to removing barriers.
Applications are to become a National Health Service Corps (NHSC)-approved site.
The is accepting applications through April 17. The program provides funds to Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses working in an eligible public or private critical shortage facility, or nurse faculty at an eligible school of nursing.
The application cycle is now open through April 24.