Congress Grapples With Budget Reconciliation as ED Makes New Announcements

Public Policy
• April 4, 2025

This week, federal lawmakers continued to work towards a budget reconciliation package that aligns with the Trump administration’s priorities. Elsewhere on the Hill, House lawmakers discussed the impacts of artificial intelligence on the education system while Senate Democrats sent the Secretary of Education a letter regarding the recent layoffs at the department. Meanwhile, several new announcements were made at the U.S. Department of Education with implications for the education community.

Lawmakers Back in Session With Attention On Reconciliation

Lawmakers returned to the Hill last week and turned their attention back toward budget reconciliation. As previously reported, Congress averted a government shutdown last month with a continuing resolution (CR) that maintains funding levels for most federal programs, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). The CR funds the federal government and related operations through the end of the current 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25) ending on September 30, 2025.

With FY25 funding now complete, Congressional Republicans have returned to the ongoing budget reconciliation process, which they intend to use to advance the majority of President Trump’s legislative agenda– a package that is likely to include an extension of tax cuts and policies related to immigration, border security, energy, and defense. Later today, the Senate is expected to consider a new budget resolution as both chambers continue to work to align their respective visions for a broad reconciliation package.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has set an internal deadline for the congressional reconciliation package being sent to President Trump as May 9th, aligning with the shared goal of outlining and meeting some legislative priorities by Memorial Day Weekend. A key aspect of this reconciliation process will be the nation’s debt limit. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report last week with analysis that estimates the U.S. is likely to reach its borrowing authority by August or September, warning that that breach could happen as early as late May or June. As Congressional Republicans and President Trump hope to address this issue as part of the budget reconciliation, it could further complicate the process.

Advance CTE will continue to monitor these efforts as the budget reconciliation process and other legislative efforts progress this year.

ED Requires K-12 Compliance with Title VI

This Thursday, April 3, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a letter to chief state school officers requiring them to certify compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Department’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard to maintain eligibility for federal funds. The letter indicates that State Education Agencies (SEAs) must also obtain certifications from their Local Education Agencies (LEAs) within the next 10 days.

This follows February and early March guidance from ED’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) barring the use of federal funds to support race-based preferences or stereotypes within education programs and initiatives. The letter is part of ED’s broader effort to implement President Trump’s Executive Order, calling for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public education. At present, more than 20 active federal lawsuits have been initiated in the last few months regarding these and other ED actions. Advance CTE is closely monitoring these and other efforts and will keep the CTE community informed of future developments.

ED Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

Last week, ED rescinded expenditure extensions provided at the end of the Biden administration to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The change was announced in a letter from ED Secretary Linda McMahon to states canceling these extensions, which previously were set to expire on March 30, 2026. ESSER funds were provided to states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support schools in responding to related challenges. Since the pandemic, states and local education agencies (LEAs) have used funds to increase tutoring opportunities, support summer learning programs, and supplement teacher salaries. The Department has indicated it will consider individual project-specific extension requests if they demonstrate mitigation of the pandemic’s impact on education. Read the letter here.

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on AI Impact on K-12 Education

This week, the House Education & the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled “From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education.” The hearing was an opportunity for representatives to discuss the potential that artificial intelligence (AI) has to support student learning, concerns about critical thinking skills, and accessibility for students with disabilities. Panelists warned that rigid AI policies at the state or federal level could limit innovation, given how rapidly the technology is evolving.

Rep. Bonamici (D-OR) highlighted the use of AI as a tool to prepare learners for an ever-evolving, technology-driven world but emphasized the challenge states like Oregon, face when developing state-based policy without federal guidance. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) highlighted the potential role and drawbacks of AI in supporting instruction. Watch the full hearing here.

Senate Democrats Send Letter to ED Regarding Reduction In Force

Last week, Senate Democrats sent a letter regarding the March 11 reduction in force (RIF) at ED. The letter is a request to ED’s Inspector General to conduct an evaluation of the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department. The request uses specific language from the role of the Inspector General, citing the evaluation of “the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of the Department’s programs and operations” and whether the actions taken by the administration are harming students, parents, and teachers around the country. As previously reported, the RIF aligns with President Trump’s wider agenda to streamline federal operations and has affected over half of ED’s employees.

Advance CTE supported a Committee for Education Funding (CEF) coalition letter concerning the RIF this week, joining other organizations in raising concerns about the RIF as it may jeopardize ED’s ability to carry out its legally mandated responsibilities such as the implementation of Perkins V. Advance CTE is monitoring this situation closely, particularly for potential impacts on the CTE community.

Odds & Ends

ED’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education issued a guidance letter this week outlining existing flexibilities in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I funds to support school choice. The letter notes that these flexibilities may also be used in support of CTE programs and related initiatives.
U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education announced its plans to hold a new negotiated rulemaking effort along with an opportunity to provide feedback to ED regarding higher education and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. Read more about the announcement here.