This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, international students, student housing, research initiatives, and federal research funding opportunities. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to see GR activities in areas of the economy related to the Higher Ed channel? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Social Issues and BioPharma.

Dates: 2026-01-24 to 2026-01-30

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Education and the Workforce: 'Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts' Hearing Scheduled: On February 4, 2026, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold a hearing titled 'Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts' at 3:15 PM in Rayburn 2175.
• House Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Panel: ‘Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work’: On February 3, 2026, the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions will meet at 3:15 PM in Rayburn 2175 to examine challenges in adopting AI across American workplaces.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Meeting Covers Science, Space, and Research Legislation: On February 3, 2026, the Senate Commerce Committee will convene at 3:00 PM in Russell 253 for a business meeting concerning bills on orbital debris, programmable cloud laboratories, satellite license processing, and athletic program support, as well as several nominations.

Federal Government News

State Department Implements Final Rule: Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance Programs

The Department of State has issued a final rule effective February 26, 2026, establishing eligibility criteria for foreign assistance recipients regarding the promotion of 'discriminatory equity ideology' and unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) discrimination. Recipients—whether foreign NGOs, U.S. NGOs, international organizations, or foreign governments—must agree not to use foreign assistance funding to engage in activities that promote such ideology or discrimination, with detailed definitions and compliance mechanisms outlined. The regulation applies across development, humanitarian, and civil society programs, and requires segregation of funds, due diligence for sub-recipients, and expands audit rights for U.S. officials. Waivers are available at the Secretary’s discretion for national security or foreign policy reasons. The rule was determined to be economically significant under E.O. 12866 and leverages statutory discretion under several foreign assistance acts. Organizations may see costs for familiarization, staff training, and compliance monitoring, estimated at over $114 million annually, affecting approximately 2,500 entities.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Education Department Announces Negotiated Rulemaking on Title IV Accreditation

The Department of Education has announced its intention to convene a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on regulatory amendments concerning accrediting agencies and institutional eligibility under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Stakeholder nominations are due by February 26, and public meetings are scheduled for April 13-17 and May 18-22 in Washington, DC, with livestream access available. The negotiation will address simplification of accreditation regulations, technical corrections, and revisions to recognition criteria, with consideration for student outcomes, unlawful discrimination, intellectual diversity, and innovative learning models. The committee will comprise representatives from student, veteran, taxpayer, workforce, legal, accrediting, institutional, and state constituencies. An advisor with accreditation expertise will join the panel; logistical and accessibility details are included in the federal notice.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Marks 40th Challenger Disaster Anniversary, Announces Space Exploration Initiatives

On January 28, 2026, the White House issued a presidential message commemorating the Challenger disaster’s 40th anniversary, honoring the astronauts and citing ongoing U.S. space ambitions. The administration referenced its Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority and outlined plans for a U.S. return to the Moon by 2028, development of a permanent lunar presence, and establishing the first Mars landing by an American astronaut. The message also noted efforts to foster private sector innovation within the commercial space industry as part of strengthening national leadership in space exploration.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Special Education Spending Data Collection Proposal Announced by the Department of Education

The National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, has proposed a new Information Collection Request to estimate expenditures associated with special education services for students with disabilities, disaggregated by disability categories. The study will measure spending by states, districts, and schools, and provide data on factors influencing special education costs and the correspondence between IDEA funding and overall expenditures. Comments are invited until March 30, 2026, with anticipated respondents numbering 5,051 and total annual burden estimated at 11,501 hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

HRSA Seeks OMB Approval for NFLP Forms for Nurse Faculty Training Loan Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration has submitted revised Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) forms for Office of Management and Budget review. The NFLP facilitates grants to accredited nursing schools to offer loans to students pursuing advanced faculty roles, with up to 85% loan cancellation available for service over four years. The forms—Program Specific Data, Annual Performance Report Financial Data, and Due Diligence—enable tracking of loan activities, borrower employment, cancellations, and financial outcomes. The annual burden is estimated at 1,982 hours for 317 respondents. Public comments are open until March 2, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Federal policy uncertainty is disrupting planning, college leaders say: College leaders report federal policy uncertainty is complicating institutional planning and decision timelines.
• 'The pace is relentless’: How college leaders are adapting to an increasingly hectic job: College presidents are adjusting to the high volume of rapid changes confronting institutions.
• Education Department halts effort to implement controversial anti-DEI letter: The Education Department has paused plans to enforce a disputed anti-DEI directive amid legal challenges.
• Opinion | Is a Four-Year Degree Worth It?: WSJ explores ongoing questions surrounding the value of traditional undergraduate degrees.
• He left the US for an internship. Trump’s travel ban made it impossible to return: International student recounts impact of travel restrictions on educational mobility.
• Florida Universities Partnered With ICE, Stoking Anxiety Among Students: NYT investigates how Florida universities’ agreements with ICE affect student sentiment.
• Watchdog group exposes Idaho colleges' alleged scheme to sidestep new DEI law: Fox News details allegations regarding Idaho colleges' approaches to DEI law compliance.