Higher Ed Policy Roundup: Vol. 9 - Issue 9

On Monday, the Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. Recall that Secretary McMahon served as President Trump’s transition co-chair and is known for her work in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and as a co-founder of the conservative research group America First Policy Institute. After her confirmation, Secretary McMahon laid out her “final mission” for the Education Department (ED) which outlined a plan to “send education back to the states” and “end the overreach from Washington.”

Relatedly, the Trump Administration continues its work to draft an executive order (EO) to begin the process of dismantling ED. According to media sources, a draft of the EO directs Secretary McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” using “the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.” The next step would require passing legislation eliminating ED – a move that can only be made through Congress. Legislation eliminating ED would require a vote of 60 in the Senate, meaning that seven Democrats would need to agree, which insiders say is highly unlikely.

As the Trump Administration continues to make significant changes to federal higher education programs, a recent article explains what borrowers concerned about the future of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program can do to stay informed and proactive about their forgiveness eligibility.

The Justice Department is urging ABA to repeal Standard 206, which requires law schools to diversify student and faculty populations, or risk losing its accrediting authority.

The following bill(s) have been recently introduced for consideration by the 119th Congress (2025-26):    

S. 801 – Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act [Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)] would streamline federal student loans by providing a single borrowing option, providing undergraduate students up to $7,500 and graduate students up to $18,500 per academic year, and would introduce a new financial “skin-in-the-game” requirement for colleges and universities.

H.R. 1759 – Affordable PLUS Repayment Options for Parents Act [Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43)] would allow borrowers of Parent PLUS Loans or loans under section 428B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 made on behalf of a dependent student to repay such loans under an Income-Contingent or Income-Based Repayment Plan.

H.R. 1825 – [Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5)] would direct the Secretary of Education to eliminate the Office of Enforcement within the Office of Federal Student Aid.

H.R. 1852 – [Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5)] would require colleges and universities registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to be deemed a nonprofit institution of higher education.

H.R. 1886 – Affordable College Textbook Act [Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-2)] would expand the use of open textbooks.