Newswire Archives
ASAHP joined the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) in a letter underscoring the vital role of sustained funding for Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs in supporting research activities funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
On Feb. 7, the NIH director’s office issued supplementary guidance that award recipients are subject to a 15 percent indirect cost rate.
The FASAHP letter may be accessed here.
Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to consider Linda McMahon’s nomination as Secretary of Education. The discussion focused on the future of the Department of Education, with Republican senators advocating for downsizing or restructuring to shift control to state and local governments, while Democrats raised concerns about the impact on federal funding and student protections.
When asked by Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA), if she agreed that since the Department of Education was created by Congress, it would need an act of Congress to be abolished, McMahon responded, “Certainly, President Trump understands that we'll be working with Congress. We'd like to do this right. We'd like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with and our Congress could get on board with that would have a better functioning Department of Education, but certainly does require congressional action.” McMahon also added, “it is set up by the United States Congress and we work with Congress. It clearly cannot be shut down without it.”
While the day prior President Trump called the Department of Education a “con job” and said he’d “like it to be closed immediately”, McMahon stated that the Administration’s goal was not to defund education programs but to improve efficiency and flexibility in federal funding.
McMahon expressed support for continuing and expanding Pell Grants, ensuring states maintain current funding levels, and honoring PSLF commitments. There was bipartisan support for career and technical education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs, as well as discussions from the Republican side on regulatory flexibility for higher education.
Other topics discussed include anti-Semitism on college campuses, Office of Civil Rights, teacher pay, Title I, IDEA, ESSA Implementation, school choice, Title IX, DEI and federal grants, teacher shortage, school sports, foreign influence on colleges/universities, and collective bargaining.
The Senate HELP Committee will hold a vote on Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon on Thursday, February 20. The vote will be livestreamed here. Our memo on yesterday’s hearing may be accessed here.
On Wednesday, February 5, at 10:15am Eastern, the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on “The State of American Education”. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
The Senate Finance Committee and Senate HELP Committee was focused las week on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, with Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) still undecided whether he will support Kennedy’s confirmation. A Senate Finance Committee vote is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4 on RFK’s nomination. Following that, a vote would be needed on the Senate floor.
Not yet scheduled are confirmation hearings for DOL Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon, with Chavez-DeRemer’s hearing likely to be set the week of February 10.
On Monday evening, OMB sent a shockwave across the federal government, issuing a two-page Memorandum to federal agencies to put a temporary pause on obligating or disbursing funds for agency grants, loans, other financial assistance programs, and open notices of funding opportunities. Social Security, Medicare, and other programs aiding directly to individuals were not included in this OMB directive. The OMB memo stated that the temporary pause “will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities”.
Just before its effective date on Tuesday afternoon, a judge issued a brief administrative stay which blocked implementation of the memo. Then on Wednesday, OMB issued a new memo rescinding the funding pause. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that while the memo was rescinded, “the Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments.” In a separate lawsuit, another federal judge said during a Wednesday hearing that he was inclined to halt the administration from pausing funding.
