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Government Enters First Week of Shutdown Without Any Resolution
On Tuesday, October 1, the federal government entered into a shutdown after no agreement was made between Republicans and Democrats on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded for a short period. Democrats insist that Republicans add language to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance subsidies and reverse cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, while Republicans are offering a “clean” CR that maintains federal spending at the fiscal year (FY) 2025 levels.Details on the potential impacts of the government shutdown are available in a previous advocacy update. CSWE will continue to monitor the progress of these negotiations and impacts on education and healthcare.
Department of Education Enters Negotiated Rulemaking on the Definition of a Professional Student
Last week, the Department of Education (ED) entered into negotiated rulemaking with the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee regarding the definition of a professional degree. The negotiations were sparked given that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) determined that loan limits for graduate students will face an aggregate cap of $100,000 with an annual limit of $20,500, while professional students will have a $200,000 aggregate limit and a $50,000 annual cap.Prior to the negotiations, ED posted the definition of a professional student, notably excluding those pursuant of a social work degree, among other related fields. During the negotiated rulemaking session, ED proposed an interim definition of professional student that is broader than the proposed definition and would include educational programs that existed as of July 4, 2025, students were eligible to receive Title IV funds for this program, and if the program in question had been designated by the institution of higher education as a professional program. However, it would only be applicable to a student “if they were enrolled before July 1, 2026 in a program of study that awards a professional degree upon completion of the program.” Clarity is needed regarding the Departments intention to utilize the narrower interpretation to students enrolling after July 1, 2027.
Given the shutdown, the rulemaking committee did not meet on Thursday or Friday. However, the committee released contingency plans for them to reconvene virtually on October 15-17.