October 2025 Policy by the People Federal Update 

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What’s Happening in Washington   

*Please note: This update may not include all the changes currently happening in the federal government. 

Here’s what’s been happening in federal education policy in the month of October, and what lies ahead. 

The U.S. Congress  

The Federal Government Shutdown: After Congress failed to pass the 12 full-year appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR) by the federal budget deadline of September 30, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown on October 1st. Since the shutdown began, the Senate has repeatedly attempted to pass short-term funding measures, but each has failed to clear the 60-vote threshold required to end debate. Most recently, there were Republican and Democrat-led bills to provide pay to federal workers; however, no bill reached the threshold.

The shutdown, now in its fifth week, is having significant impacts nationwide. Despite the Administration and Congress’s attempts to fund social programs and pay parts of the federal workforce, a number of federal funding streams have become depleted. WIC, SNAP, and Head Start are only a few examples of programs that have run out of funding or will be zeroed out by the end of the month. November 1st will mark the first full pay period in which federal workers will not receive a paycheck, including the military, air traffic controllers, and essential employees, who are required to work without pay throughout the shutdown. 

As most K-12 education and afterschool funding is forward-funded or has multi-year mechanisms, they are not usually impacted by shutdowns. Congressional staff and sub-committee members report that work on appropriations continues despite the shutdown, with readiness to act once Congress resumes its full functions. To learn more about federal shutdowns and their impact, check out this FAQ from the Congressional Research Service. 

The Status of Appropriations Bills: Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have passed their versions of the FY26 Labor-HHS Appropriations bills and are awaiting a floor vote. The Senate bill funds Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) at $135M and includes level funding for Promise Neighborhoods and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), while the House version of the bill seeks to eliminate all three of these funding streams, in alignment with the President’s budget proposal for FY26. The House bill also eliminates funding for the Reentry Employment Opportunities Grant, which is housed in the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (DOL-ETA), while the Senate bill maintains level funding at $115M. 

The FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bills have both passed the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and are awaiting a floor vote. For youth mentoring programs at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in the Department of Justice, the House bill allocates level funding at $104M while the Senate allocates $105M.  

The U.S. Department of Education  

Hundreds of U.S. Department of Education Staff Receive Reduction in Force Notices: The U.S. Department of Education has faced significant disruptions in operations since the federal government shutdown. With appropriations unresolved as of October 1, the ED began its shutdown contingency plan, which identified that more than 80 percent of its workforce would be or is furloughed. However, the agency has stated that core functions, such as Title IV student processing, will continue despite the lapse in discretionary funding. 

Simultaneously, the department issued reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to hundreds of employees. 466 staff received RIF notices on October 10, including members of the Office of Special Education Programs and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office for Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), and Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO). Additionally, on October 13, ED notified over 250 employees in its Office for Civil Rights that their employment would be terminated as of November 3. Advocates warn that these cuts significantly impact the department’s capacity to enforce civil rights laws, manage compliance with IDEA, and monitor support for underserved students. 

U.S. Department of Education Awards Over $153 Million in American History and Civics Seminar Grants: On September 29, the U.S. Department of Education announced over $153 million in new grant awards through the American History and Civics Seminar program. These grants were awarded to programs that seek to strengthen history and civics instruction in K-12 classrooms and higher education institutions that are committed to conducting seminars focused on primary documents, constitutional study, historical field experiences, civil discourse, and American achievement. These grants aim to support seminar-based instruction, civics education resources, school and community events centered around civil discourse, and curricular resources aligned with state standards.  

Linda McMahon Announces New Members and Names Next Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board: On September 30, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon appointed Tennessee Representative Mark White as Chair of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). Secretary McMahon also appointed Kymyona Burk, an early literacy expert, and Michael Sidebotham, an elementary school principal, to NAGB. Scott Marion, a previous member of NAGB, was reappointed to a second term. All appointees begin their four-year terms on October 1, 2025. NAGB oversees the Nation’s Report Card by setting achievement levels, determining which grades and subjects to assess, and deciding what content to include in these assessments. For more information on NAGB, see here.  

The White House  

Nominee to Lead the ED’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education Withdraws: President Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee the Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), Kevin O’Farrell, has withdrawn his nomination. His withdrawal comes after a reorganization to shift grants and programs managed by OCTAE to the Labor Department via an MOU signed in May. This transition raises questions as to how OCTAE programs will be funded and connected to workforce opportunities such as work-based learning, dual-credit programs, and partnerships with local employers.  

IEL Policy Updates 📜 

  • Policy & Advocacy Resources and Tools: Check out this link for a comprehensive list of resources, tools, and trackers on Community Schools outreach work. Whether you are looking for easy how-to guides to reach out to your Members of Congress or to share the impact of Community Schools  on your community, we have a resource for you! Also check out our previous policy webinars for refreshers on the federal budget process, the role of data, formula grants, and more! 
  • Apply now for the EPFP 2026 Spring Cohort: The application for the Spring 2026 Education Policy Fellowship ProgramTM (EPFP) is now live! If you want to learn how to advance your policy strategy and advocate for the children and families in your community, then EPFP is right for you—no previous policy experience required. To learn more about the program and how to apply, go to https://iel.org/our-work/epfp/. 

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