Federal Friday

• Department of War: Department of War Orders Research Security Audits at 30 Academic Institutions
• Department of Justice: Justice Department Investigates William & Mary’s Scholarships & Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Issues Proposed Rule to Overhaul and Improve America’s Higher Education Accreditation System
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Approves Second Workforce Pell Grant Program in Indiana

Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

On August 20, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: Secretary’s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility under the Higher Education Act, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions was published.

At the time of the release, Under Secretary of Education Nicolas Kent said, “At a time when Americans have lost trust in higher education, the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to the accreditation system are intended to reorient our quality assurance framework so that accreditors prioritize student outcomes rather than bureaucratic processes or the promotion of divisive and unlawful ideological agendas. Instead of ensuring institutions offer high-quality educational programs that justify the time and cost of a college education, the antiquated accreditation system has contributed to inflated tuition, administrative bloat, and ideology-driven mandates on college campuses. The Department’s proposed changes to our higher education quality assurance system will improve college affordability, reconnect education to workforce needs, strengthen accountability, and restore confidence in our accreditation system.”

For more, you can read the Department of Education’s press release.

Please continue to share feedback with your university’s liaison.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Justice: The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont Challenging State Laws that Provide In-State Tuition to Illegal Aliens
• Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel: Constitutionality of the National Science Foundation’s STEM Programs
• House Select Committee on the CCP and House Education and Workforce Committee: Select Committee Investigation: Exposing CCP Influence at Harvard University

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Education: S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Issues National Call to Action to University Presidents and Governing Boards
• Select Committee on the CCP: Moolenaar: Trump Admin Shines Light on CCP-Linked Funding on U.S. Campuses
• Department of Education: S. Department of Education Approves the Nation’s First Workforce Pell Grant Program in Iowa
• USCIS: USCIS to Reduce Frivolous Immigration Benefits Requests by Reinforcing Evidence Standards
• Department of Education: S. Department of Education Investigates Alleged Antisemitic Harassment at Two California Universities
• Department of Justice: Justice Department Finds Duke Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Census Bureau: The Census Bureau Higher Education Consortium: Transforming Collaboration Between the U.S. Census Bureau and Higher Education
• Department of Education: S. Department of Education Approves South Dakota’s Returning Education to the States Waiver
• Department of Education: (APP-26-09) Real-Time FAFSA Fraud Detection and Identity Confirmation – Frequently Asked Questions
• Department of Justice: The Department of Justice Sues Colorado for Providing In-State Tuition to Illegal Aliens

• Department of State: U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research
• Department of Education: What They Are Saying: Support for Breaking Up the Federal Education Bureaucracy
• Department of Education: Joint Letter to Congress from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Partner Agencies

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Justice: Justice Department Finds University of California San Diego Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions
• Department of Justice: Justice Department Launches Investigation to Determine Whether Harvard’s China-Based Financial Aid Programs Discriminate Against American Students
• Wisconsin Department of Justice: Wisconsin DOJ and Coalition Win Ruling Protecting Billions in Critical Federal Funding
• Department of Ed: (APP-26-10) 2027-28 FAFSA Beta Testing Plan
• White House: Trump Administration Announces More Than $5 Billion for the Genesis Mission, a National Mission on AI for Science

Duration of Status Updates 

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security released the final rule titled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media” in the Federal Register.

Since publication, the Department has released a series of resources that may be of interest. For more, you can review the following Resource Page, which has a summary and FAQ document among other resources.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Education: (GENERAL-26-42) Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order (Updated July 10, 2026)
• Department of Education: (GENERAL-26-45) Reminder: Reporting Deadline for Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Updated July 14, 2026)
• Department of Education: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Issues Statement on the House Education and Workforce Committee’s “Less Bureaucracy, Better Education” Legislative Package
• Department of Homeland Security: Trump Administration Issues Final Rule to End Foreign Student Visa Abuse

Duration of Status

The Department of Homeland Security released the final rule titled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media” in the Federal Register on July 17, 2026.

For more, you can review the final rule linked above and the Department’s press release. Additional information will be shared as it is available.

Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance

On July 13, 2026, the comment period for the White House Office for Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule on “Uniform Guidance” closed. Nearly 500,000 comments have been posted to date. If interested, a selection of comments from member associations and groups of note are included below.

• APLU: Comments on Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, 91 Fed. Reg. 32,196 (May 29, 2026); Docket No. OMB-2026-0034
• ACE Led Association Letter: Proposed Rule on Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, Docket No. OMB-2026-0034
• Multi-State Attorneys General (Including AG Kaul): Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, 91 Fed. Reg. 32,198 (May 29, 2026), Docket No. OMB–2026–0034
  • California AG Press Release: Attorney General Bonta Opposes Trump Administration’s Sweeping Proposal to Allow for Widespread Political Weaponization of Federal Grant Funding
• COGR: COGR Response to Federal Register Notice, 91 FR 32198 2 CFR Parts 1, 25, 170, 175, 176, 180, 182, 183, and 200 2 CFR subtitle B, referenced Federal agency adoptions
• AAU: AAU Comments on OMB’s Uniform Guidance Rule
• NACUBO: NACUBO Responds to Proposal to Reform Uniform Guidance

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Education: (GENERAL-26-42) Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Issues Final Rule to Hold All Colleges and Universities Accountable for Low-Earning Programs
• Department of Justice: The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Massachusetts and Rhode Island Challenging State Laws that Provide In-State Tuition to Illegal Aliens
• Department of Education: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Issues Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J.
• Department of Education: Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration is Making Higher Education More Affordable, Expanding Opportunity, and Simplifying Student Loan Repayment
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Marks End of Second Annual Title IX Month with Major Enforcement Recap
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Holds First-of-its-Kind Higher Education Fraud Summit
• National Science Foundation: Prohibition on Collaborations with Restricted Entities

Electronic Announcement 

On June 29, 2026, the Department of Education released an Electronic Announcement titled, (GENERAL-26-42) Update to List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order.

Please take time to review the announcement and know that further updates will be shared as appropriate.

Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand- Driven Workforce Pell: Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability

On July 1, 2026, the Department of Education published the final Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand- Driven Workforce Pell: Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability rule.

At the time of the announcement, Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent, said, “The Trump Administration is hitting the hard reset button on higher education and implementing commonsense reforms that will drive down the cost of higher education and hold all institutions, regardless of sector, accountable for low earnings outcomes. If a program cannot show that it leaves its graduates financially better off than if they had never enrolled, it should not be underwritten by federal taxpayers. Amid rising rates of default and delinquency in the $1.7 trillion federal student loan portfolio, this new accountability framework is a responsible policy that will safeguard American taxpayer dollars and protect students from taking on unmanageable debt for programs that cannot demonstrate a reasonable return on investment.”

For more from the Department, including changes from the NPRM, you can review the Department’s press release and summary document.

Supreme Court of the United States Update

On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in West Virginia vs. B.P.J. You can read the opinion at the preceding link, and if interested, you can review Secretary McMahon’s statement following the ruling here.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

Note: There will not be a new Federal Friday Newsletter on Friday, July 3, 2026.  Regular publication will resume during the week of July 6, 2026.

• White House: Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation
• White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ushers in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Approves Vermont’s Returning Education to the States Waiver

House Committee on Science Space and Technology Hearing

The Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science Space and Technology held a hearing titled, “Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act’s Role in Combating Grant Fraud” on June 24.

Witnesses included:

• Robert Steinau, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of the Inspector General
• Jennifer Springmann, Special Agent in Charge, National Science Foundation Office of the Inspector General
• Brenna Jenny, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Commercial Litigation Branch, Department of Justice

To review the hearing, you can watch the archived coverage on the committee website and via the hearing charter.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Approves Indiana’s Returning Education to the States Waiver, Freeing Up Millions to Invest in Students
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Partnerships to Strengthen Coordination for Individuals with Disabilities Programs, Bolster Civil Rights Enforcement
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Announces Student Loan Interest Rate Reduction

Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures

The Department of Education’s Proposed Revisions to Information Collection Request (ICR) on Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures closed for comments on June 15, 2026.

If interested, you can review the following comment submissions from several national associations:

• Higher Education Stakeholder Letter:  Comments on Education Department’s Proposed Revisions to Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosure
• Association of American Universities: Response to ED’s Proposed ICR on Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures

$100,000 H-1B Fee Update

Currently, a coalition of state Attorneys General, including Wisconsin, is suing the federal government in Massachusetts regarding a $100,000 fee imposed on certain H-1B workers pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation on September 19, 2025. Although a federal judge struck down the fee on June 8, 2026, a stay of that ruling was granted until the appeals court can rule on a motion filed by the federal government.

Therefore, the federal government might require a $100,000 H-1B fee for certain H-1B petitions at this time.

We will continue to monitor the legal challenges to the H-1B payment policy and provide updates.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

Federal Friday

• Department of Education: S. Department of Education Announces Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge Semifinalists
• Department of Education: Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration Is Simplifying Student Loan Repayment
• Wisconsin Department of Justice: Wisconsin DOJ and Coalition Secure Summary Judgment in Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Unlawful $100k Fee for H-1B
• Department of Justice: Justice Department Finds University of California Davis Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions

• Department of Education: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Issues Statement on Passage of the ‘No Aid for Ghost Students Act’

• Wisconsin Department of Justice: Wisconsin DOJ Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Unlawful New Federal Contractor Terms

House Appropriations Committee Update

On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee marked up the FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill was approved via a vote of 34-28 and can now be considered on the House Floor.

The House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriators will continue to work to advance FY27 legislation in advance of the end of the federal fiscal year, September 30th.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.