CSWE Advocacy Update - June 9, 2026

OMB Releases Proposed Revision of Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance (Uniform Guidance)

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed revision to the “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.” The goal of the revision, according to OMB, is to “improve transparency, accountability, and oversight for how Federal taxpayer dollars are used in the context of Federal grantmaking,” and the Administration hopes to have a final Rule in place by October 1st, 2026. Key provisions of the proposed rule include:

  • The codification of grant termination capability, multi-year awards, and streamlined Notices of Funding Opportunity;
  • Requiring review by political appointees at federal agencies;
  • Conference attendance pre-approval;
  • Changes to allowable costs, including publications;
  • The Codification of DEI restrictions; and
  • Expanding event neutrality to private organizations.

The proposed rules are open for comment and will be closing on July 13, 2026. CSWE is preparing comments to submit to OMB in partnership with the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) to advocate against provisions that could have broad impacts on social work research and education. Individuals who wish to submit comments can do so on http://www.regulations.gov/, but must also register their affiliated organization when submitting comments. Individuals considering submission should also contact their affiliated Institution for further information.

 

House Releases FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Report

On June 8, the House Appropriations Committee released its full report for the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education bill.

For programs within the Department of Education (ED), the budget request proposes to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $50, to $7,445 for the 2027-2028 award year. It would fund the Federal Work Study (FWS) program at $908 million, a decrease of approximately $322 million from the enacted FY 2026 level but is significantly more than the $123 million that was proposed in President Trump’s FY 2027 Budget Request. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be funded at $47.3 billion, an increase of $100 million or 0.2% over FY 2026 enacted levels. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) would receive $8.7 billion in discretionary funding. Within HRSA, the bill would provide:

  • $159 million for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) programs, a $1 million increase from FY 2026 levels;
  • $48.2 million for the Geriatrics programs including the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and Geriatric Academic Career Awards.
  • $40 million for the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, flat funding with FY 2026 enacted levels; and,
  • $55 million for Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would be funded at $7.3 billion in FY 2027, consistent with FY 2026 enacted levels. Within SAMHSA, the bill would level fund the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) in the amount of $19,516,000.

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up its L-HHS-ED bill in full committee on June 9th. CSWE will monitor the Senate Appropriations Committee draft funding allocations for the Labor-HHS-Education bill in coming weeks.