By Sean Robins, NACAC’s director of advocacy

Welcome to this week’s issue of the Advocacy Update on NACAC’s Admitted blog. Congress has returned from recess, and the House has released its FY26 appropriations bill proposing a 16 percent cut to federal education funding and rescinding $3 billion in already appropriated funds. This stands in sharp contrast to the bipartisan Senate bill that largely maintains current funding levels. If lawmakers cannot pass all 12 appropriations bills, a government shutdown looms unless a Continuing Resolution (CR) is approved by Sept. 30. Given that Congress will be in recess for a week in September, a CR appears the most likely outcome. With so much at stake, NACAC remains focused on ensuring that student access, opportunity, and equity stay at the forefront of national discussions.

Policy & Legislative Updates 

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed ending the long-standing “duration of status” framework for international students, replacing it with a four-year visa cap. This would force students into frequent renewals and paperwork, introducing uncertainty that could discourage enrollment in U.S. institutions. More than one million international students already contribute to our economy and research enterprise. New restrictions risk undermining that pipeline and sending a damaging message abroad. DHS is accepting comments on the proposal until Sept. 29.

Equity gaps remain stark. A study in AERA Open finds that fewer than 6 percent of four-year colleges qualify as “Equity Engines,” enrolling and graduating Pell-eligible students at high rates. Twenty-four states — many with the highest child poverty rates — have none at all. Students who cannot relocate face sharply limited options, while states like California and New York benefit from strong public university systems. Researchers call for targeted investment in “Emerging Equity Engines” to expand opportunity in underserved regions.

States are stepping in where federal protections are under threat. Illinois recently codified the Plyler v. Doe ruling, ensuring undocumented students’ right to a free K–12 education. The Illinois law requires school districts to adopt policies limiting immigration enforcement on school grounds, addressing family fears amid federal crackdowns. With some states challenging Plyler, Illinois’ move offers clarity and consistency for immigrant families.

In Washington, D.C., education funding is again on the chopping block. The House FY26 appropriations bill would cut the Department of Education by $12.4 billion — 16 percent below current funding. The measure slashes Title I by 27 percent, rescinds nearly $3 billion in advance appropriations, eliminates more than a dozen programs including SEOG and teacher grants, and cuts Federal Work Study. It also reduces department staffing by 30 percent, including a 35 percent cut to the Office for Civil Rights. While Pell, TRIO, and GEAR UP are preserved, they are flat funded. Some areas — charter schools, special education, and CTE — see modest increases, but overall, the bill would fund education below 2011 levels. This contrasts sharply with the Senate’s bipartisan bill, which maintains near-level funding. With government funding set to expire on Sept. 30, a continuing resolution appears likely.

Fiscal conflicts extend beyond education. The Trump administration has sought to withhold $4.9 billion in previously approved foreign aid through a “pocket rescission,” drawing bipartisan criticism as a violation of Congress’s constitutional spending authority. Meanwhile, lawsuits over the administration’s freeze of more than $6 billion in K–12 grants have been dismissed after the Education Department  committed to releasing funds by Oct. 3, ending months of disruption.

Additionally, the Education Department has confirmed that the 2026–27 FAFSA will launch on Oct. 1, restoring predictability after recent delays. The Oct. 1 certification fulfills requirements of the FAFSA Deadline Act of 2024, which codified what had long been the expected release date in response to prior administrative challenges. For millions of students and families, an on-time FAFSA is critical to planning for enrollment and financial aid.

Immigration enforcement continues to fuel trauma and barriers from K–12 to college. Increased activity and state rollbacks of tuition equity are pushing students without legal status to withdraw, delay, or shift to online programs. The Department of Justice has also sued Illinois over its policy granting in-state tuition to undocumented students, though state leaders have defended it as consistent with federal law.

Courts are playing a key role in checking politically motivated actions. A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $2.2 billion funding freeze on Harvard University, ruling it unconstitutional and ideologically driven. The decision aligns with arguments made in an amicus brief filed by ACE on behalf of 28 higher education associations — including NACAC — and underscores the dangers of politicizing funding in ways that threaten research and institutional autonomy.

Finally, a new report from Trellis Strategies highlights the challenges facing student parents, who make up nearly one in five college students. They are more likely to work full time, struggle with basic needs, and face heightened risks of stopping out. With federal childcare supports such as CCAMPIS at risk, institutions must step up with services and strategies that help student parents persist and complete their degrees.

NACAC Advocacy 

This week, NACAC advanced its advocacy on multiple fronts as federal policy debates intensified. We joined 40 higher education associations in urging the Department of Education to ensure a clear, stable implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). With millions of students and families depending on new loan limits, repayment plans, and earnings data, the coalition called for updated systems, adequate staffing, transparent communication, and full representation of financial aid administrators and diverse institutions in the upcoming negotiated rulemaking. We emphasized that thoughtful planning and resources are essential to avoid disruption in access to aid and student borrowing.

NACAC also applauded a federal court ruling that struck down the Trump administration’s $2.2 billion funding freeze on Harvard University. The court found the freeze unconstitutional and politically motivated, underscoring the importance of protecting academic freedom and free speech. NACAC joined 28 higher education associations in submitting an amicus brief earlier this year, urging the administration to end such politically driven attacks. The decision affirms the vital role of higher education in research and innovation and rejects attempts to weaponize federal funding against institutions.

Finally, NACAC voiced opposition to the House FY26 appropriations bill, which proposes a 16 percent cut to the Department of Education, including steep reductions to Title I, student aid, and institutional support programs. The bill also eliminates or freezes key higher education initiatives and reduces staffing across the department, including the Office for Civil Rights. By contrast, the Senate’s bipartisan bill protects funding near current levels. NACAC continues to call on Congress to reject these harmful cuts, preserve critical programs, and act responsibly to keep the government funded.

Ways You Can Take Action 

We are continuously updating our Take Action page with opportunities to make your voice heard. If you have not already, I encourage you to advocate on the urgent issues below. You can also view all active advocacy campaigns in the yellow column of the Take Action page. 

• Tell Congress: Save TRIO and Support College Access
• Tell Congress: Prioritize Visa Appointments for International Students and Scholars 
• Urge Congress to Protect Postsecondary Pathways 
• Tell Congress: International Students are Essential to America’s Safety, Economy, and Global Strength
• Tell Congress to Not Abandon Our National Commitment to Education
• Urge Congress to Protect Disabled Students 
• Don’t Flunk the Future Advocacy Toolkit 

Even in the face of uncertainty, our collective advocacy continues to make a difference — in the courts, in Congress, and in communities across the country. Progress is not always immediate, but steady, persistent action shapes the path forward.

As the writer H. Jackson Brown Jr. reminds us: “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins — not through strength, but through perseverance.”

Thank you for the perseverance you bring to supporting students every day. NACAC will continue to keep you informed and amplify your voices as these debates unfold in the weeks ahead.