Each month, the Learning Forward Advocacy Team (A-Team) meets for its monthly 30-minute federal update. The calls offer a valuable opportunity for a frank and off-the-record discussion about the latest federal developments. The sessions are not recorded, and there are no slides or handouts.
Topics from February 11, 2025:
FY25 Appropriations/CR
Congress continues to negotiate overall spending limits for Fiscal Year 25 Appropriations, rushing to meet a deadline of March 14th, when the current temporary spending measure expires. Congress may elect to move a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR), which would likely fund programs at last year’s spending levels or they will pass individual spending bills, which could include cuts. Without an agreement of some kind by March 14th, the federal government would shut down.
Forthcoming Executive Order on Dismantling the Department of Education
Multiple outlets have reported that President Trump intends to sign executive orders that would urge Congress to shut down the Department of Education and to authorize the Secretary of Education to eliminate divisions within the Department of Education not authorized by statute, such as the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation. Congress will most likely be unable to comply with the request to shut down the Department of Education as at least seven Senate Democrats would have to approve legislation to do so.
Executive Order on Radical Indoctrination
On January 29, President Trump signed the Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling executive order that demanded the Department of Education develop a strategy “to eliminate federal funding or support for illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools, including based on gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology and protecting parental rights.”
McMahon Nomination
The Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on Linda McMahon’s nomination to be Secretary of Education on February 13th. In addition to her qualifications for the role, expect questions on her priorities and on her opinions of the President’s executive orders, particularly her willingness to shut down the Department of Education.
Education Department Research Grant Termination
Some grantees of U.S. Department of Education grants were informed on February 10th their awards have been terminated effective immediately. Included are a number of Supporting Effective Educator Development research grants, a program providing funding to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of educators.
