House Subcommittee Advances FY 27 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill

This morning the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor-HHS advanced its FY 27 Labor-HHS bill in an 11-7 vote along party lines. Bill text is here, along with Republican and Democratic summaries. The Committee press release from yesterday is here and from today is here. A press release from the Committee Democrats from yesterday is here and from today is here. Information on Community Project Funding (earmarks) in the bill is here. Video of the Subcommittee markup may be viewed here. The full Committee markup of the FY 20227 Labor-HHS appropriations bill is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at 11am Eastern. 

House FY 27 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill Released, Subcommittee Markup Scheduled for Tomorrow

Earlier this morning, the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee released the text of its FY 2027 funding bill, along with Republican and Democratic summaries. The subcommittee markup is scheduled for 8:00am Eastern tomorrow and can be viewed here. A Committee press release is available here. The full Committee markup of the FY 27 Labor-HHS appropriations bill is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at 11am Eastern in the 2359 Rayburn House Office Building. 

The bill is expected to advance in the subcommittee along party lines, with most amendments likely reserved for full committee consideration on June 9th.

Overall, the House bill largely reflects the Administration’s budget proposals from the past two years, which have sought significant reductions in workforce and education programs. According to the Republican summary, the proposal would reduce overall FY 27 funding by approximately 3 percent below FY 26 enacted levels, including a 10 percent reduction to the Department of Education. The Democratic summary characterizes the proposal as a 9 percent overall funding cut, including a 10 percent cut to the Department of Education. The Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) would see a 4 percent cut. The Committee Report, which will provide additional program-level detail, will not be released until after full committee markup.

The bill also includes a $50 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award, raising it to $7,445. Press reports indicate that an additional $15 billion in mandatory funding would be provided to address the Pell Grant funding shortfall, though further details are expected in the Committee Report.

Overall funding for higher education programming is six percent below current levels, with TRIO, GEAR UP, as well as HBCU’s and MSI’s within the Aid for Institutional Development account, receiving small increases.

According to the Democratic Summary, the Committee would provide $7.6 billion for HRSA, a decrease of $440 million below the FY 26 level, excluding earmarks included in the 2026 enacted bill or the 2027 House bill. This recommendation would include $1.4 billion for Health Workforce training, $25 million above the FY 26 level. 

Congressional Briefings on Student Loan Access and Strengthening the Health Workforce

On Wednesday, June 3 from noon-1:30pm Eastern, the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a congressional lunch briefing titled, “Securing the Nation's Health Workforce: The Critical Role of the HRSA Title VII and Title VIII Programs”. The briefing will highlight the importance of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs in addressing health workforce shortages and improving patients' access to care.   

On June 8 from 2-3:30pm Eastern, the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), will hold a congressional briefing titled, “The RISE and Fall of Graduate Access; Student Loan Limit Implications for Graduate Degree Programs”. The briefing will open with remarks from congressional champions, followed by a cross-disciplinary panel of workforce and student impact testimony. Speakers will address enrollment impacts, increased reliance on private credit markets, effects on low-income and first-generation students, and workforce pathway consequences in affected fields.

Both events are are open to congressional staff.

Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Accreditation Reaches Consensus

The negotiated rulemaking committee on Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) reached consensus last week on changes to the accreditation system that overhauls the accreditation system by making it easier for new accreditors to gain federal recognition and easier for institutions to change accreditors, streamlining transfer of credit policies, and adding requirements around academic freedom and intellectual diversity. If the Department of Education issues the final rule by November 1 of this year it should be in effect July 1 of 2027. A press release from the Department of Education is available here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is available here.

Department of Education Publishes Workforce Pell Grant Final Rule

The Department of Education issued its final rule this week on the new Workforce Pell Grant program, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The rule was published here in the Federal Register on Tuesday. A press release from the Department of Education is here and a fact sheet is here. A statement from House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is here and a statement from Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here.

States and Organizations Sue Department of Education Over New Graduate Student Loan Cap Rule

Twenty-five states, all with a Democratic governor or attorney general, and Washington, DC sued the Department of Education on Tuesday, May 19 asking a judge to vacate the final rule on new graduate student loan caps limiting student loans for certain professions. The states contend the rule, which is set to take effect July 1, does not follow congressional intent from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.

On Thursday, May 21, Democracy Forward with several organizations filed a lawsuit to prevent the implementation of the same rule. The complaint is here and a statement from Democracy Forward is here.

Congressional Democrats Pursue Congressional Review Act Repeal of Department of Education Rule on Graduate Federal Loan Programs

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. John Mannion (D-NY), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) are pursuing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Department of Education’s finalized rule on graduate student loan caps. ASAHP has endorsed the resolution, as has the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member. A press release is available here and text of the CRA is here.

June 4 update: A list of nearly 200 endorsing organizations, including ASAHP, is here.

Department of Education Issues Updated Draft Accreditation Regulations, Negotiated Rulemaking Resumes Next Week

This week the Department of Education issued new draft regulations in advance of the second and final session of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking to be held Monday through Friday of next week. The committee will vote on the proposed regulations as part of next week’s session. More details are here and the updated draft regulations are here.

Department of Education Releases Final Rule on Graduate and Professional Student Loan Caps

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education released its final rule defining “professional” degree programs and establishing new federal student loan caps. The rule was published today in the Federal Register. Effective July 1, the rule will significantly limit eligibility for the highest federal student borrowing levels to 11 designated fields, affecting access to graduate and professional education nationwide.

Students in these designated “professional” programs including pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, theology, and clinical psychology, may borrow up to $50,000 annually with a $200,000 lifetime cap. All other graduate programs are reclassified as “graduate” programs for federal loan purposes and are limited to $20,500 annually and $100,000 in total federal borrowing, regardless of discipline or workforce demand.

The rule has significant implications for health professions education and for allied health programs. A primary concern is that qualified students would be less likely to apply, enroll, and graduate from health professions education programs due to concerns around financing the cost of attendance. These concerns are particularly significant given the constraints and uncertainty associated with the private loan market. These changes will also have negative downstream impacts on the health workforce pipeline, exacerbating current and projected workforce shortages as health professions are among the fastest growing professions in the country.

ASAHP has voiced our concerns with the rule throughout the rulemaking process. ASAHP submitted comments on the proposed rule to the Department of Education and joined with our health professions education peers by submitting joint comments to the department from coalitions including the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP), and the American Council on Education (ACE). 

ASAHP will continue to review the final rule, monitor its implementation and engage with federal policymakers to convey its deleterious impact on health professions education, student access, and the health workforce. We will also continue our work with federal policymakers as well as our coalition partners to assess the impacts of the rule and plan our collective next steps. We will keep you informed of any developments. 

A press release from the Department of Education with a link to the final rule may be accessed here along with their fact sheet here. A statement from House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is here and from Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here. 

Inside Higher Ed: Loan Limits Finalized, but Litigation Looms

The Trump administration finalized regulations Thursday that will put in place new loan limits for postbaccalaureate degree programs, which could potentially limit college access for hundreds of thousands of students and weaken pipelines for several high-demand health-care professions. Multiple trade associations quickly announced plans to challenge the rule in federal court.

Read the full article here.

Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Accreditation Holds First Sesson of Negotiations

The first session of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee was held this week. The second and final session of negotiations will be held May 18-22 and will include a vote on the proposed regulations. More details are here. A 151-page initial draft of the Department of Education’s proposed regulations is here. A 9-page summary from the Department is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here, here, and here. Coverage from the Chronicle of Higher Education is here and here. New America held an event last week, “Accreditation 101: A Fireside Chat on How Colleges Are Measured”. It contains discussion of the negotiated rulemaking and is available here. 

Department of Education Releases Proposed Rule on Accountability

Today, the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a postsecondary education accountability framework. The new accountability measures stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and negotiators narrowly reached consensus on the package of proposed regulations in January. The proposed rule will officially publish to the Federal Register on Monday, and the NPRM will be open for a 30-day public comment period, with comments due no later than May 20. A press release is here and the NPRM is here.

On Thursday, May 14 at 9:15am Eastern, AEI will host an in-person and online event titled, “Can Accountability Strengthen Higher Education’s Economic Promise?” Participants include Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent and Senior Adviser, Office of the Under Secretary, Jason Delisle, as well as former Biden Administration Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. More details, including a registration link, are available here.