Policy Briefs March 2026

On March 26, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it will be leaving its headquarters at the Lyndon B. Johnson federal building, perhaps the most publicly visible move of the Trump Administration’s goal to downsize the agency. According to the fact sheet released by the Department, “there is no impact on staff operating out of the LBJ Building.” Nevertheless, ED’s relocation, combined with the Department’s efforts to transfer its functions to other agencies through 10 Interagency Agreements (IAAs) announced to date, signals that the Trump Administration is keen to reshape the federal education footprint and reduce costs. 

On March 24-25, 2026, The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) met with several accrediting agencies up for consideration. Of note, several NACIQI members challenged agencies under review about their use of DEI in their accrediting standards and materials, as this was the main discussion point for the two-day convening. Accreditation will remain in the headlines as the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will convene for negotiated rulemaking in the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) Committee. The Committee will consider amending the regulations for the Secretary's recognition of accrediting agencies and related institutional eligibility regulations. CSWE will monitor any changes to accreditation policy as well as the upcoming negotiated rulemaking process. 

On March 19, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the U.S Department of Treasury (Treasury) focusing on transitioning parts of the federal student loan portfolio. In the press release, ED states that “Treasury will assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to ED’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. In subsequent phases, Treasury will work to provide operational support over non-defaulted Federal student loan debt, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, while also seeking opportunities to provide operational support to FSA’s other functions.” 

The IAA is part of a broader effort to transition ED’s functions to other agencies, with 10 IAAs announced to date. In the press release, Secretary McMahon cites Treasury’s financial expertise as the reason for the transition. CSWE will continue to monitor the administration’s efforts to reorganize and reshape ED. More information on the first batch of IAAs can be found here.

On March 12, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced its intent to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Program. The SDS program seeks to expand the health workforce by providing scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing careers in health professions. Eligible applicants include accredited programs offering graduate degrees in behavioral and mental health, including social work. HRSA plans to distribute an estimated $51.079 million in funding to approximately 80 grantees over the next five years, with a maximum award ceiling of $650,000. Applications are anticipated to open on April 6 and will be due on May 21. 

On March 10, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) expressing concern over the proposed rules published by the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee as part of the negotiated rulemaking process initiated by the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Of note, the letter emphasized that graduate social work programs should be considered a professional degree, according to the Department’s own definitions, and therefore qualify for the $200,000 aggregate and $50,000 yearly loan limit. 

CSWE’s letter sent to ED engaging on this topic can be found here.

On March 9, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released proposed rules for the Federal Pell Grant Program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. This follows the conclusion of the negotiated rulemaking by the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) committee, the second part of the process of implementing policy changes that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). As a reminder, ED began its 2025 negotiated rulemaking (neg reg) process to implement major Title IV changes to student financial assistance programs due to the passage of OBBBA. ED organized two rulemaking committees; the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee focused on restructuring student loan programs, which reached consensus late last year and published proposed rules on January 29, and the AHEAD committee, which reached consensus on all of its issues in early January.

The proposed regulations establish a new Workforce Pell Grant program that would be aimed at creating alternative pathways beyond a four-year degree by enabling students to attain federal funds that are enrolled in “short-term credential programs.” Additionally, the proposed regulations would prohibit students from receiving Pell Grant funds during an award year in which they also receive grant or scholarship aid from non-Federal sources including States, eligible institutions, or private sources that is equal to or exceeds their cost of attendance (COA). Of particular note, ED emphasized that the provisions on institutional accountability metrics “are outside the scope of this proposed rule” and the Department plans to publish separate proposed rules on these accountability regulations at a later date. For more details on the proposed rules published by ED on Workforce Pell and Pell ineligibility, please see here. 

CSWE will continue to monitor any updates to the proposed rules published by ED and will continue to engage with the Department when necessary.