August 23, 2026 to August 29, 2026

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.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Industrial Base and Workforce Development for Skilled Trades: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense will hold a hearing on "Industrial Base and Workforce Development for Skilled Trades" on September 4, 2026, at College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center, Santa Clarita, CA, with witnesses from the U.S. Department of War, Huntington Ingalls Industries, and Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Federal Government News

Trump Issues Executive Order to Create United States Space Academy

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on August 28, 2026, establishing the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy. The NASA-chaired Commission is tasked with developing governance, curriculum, location, applicant requirements, service obligations, and implementation strategy. Scheduled to serve as a federal institution for space education, the Academy will provide technical education for prospective leaders in military, civil, and commercial space sectors. Its graduates are expected to enter fields in space exploration, security, and industry. The Commission's recommendations will address legislative and administrative actions, partnerships, pilot programs, and strategic timelines. Implementation will proceed within existing legal and fiscal constraints.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov, www.whitehouse.gov

Education Department Proposes Major Changes to Grant Regulations

On August 24, 2026, the Education Department published proposed amendments to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The draft regulations would eliminate the requirement to publish grant notices and priorities in the Federal Register, instead consolidating information on Grants.gov to reduce administrative burden and departmental costs. The proposal introduces merit-based standards for hiring, admissions, promotions, and compensation in federally funded projects, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, unless lawful exceptions apply. The Department also outlines new procedures for grant continuation awards, budget adjustments for unspent funds, flexibility to frontload grant funding, and new competitive preferences for lower indirect cost rates. Public comments are invited through September 23, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Prioritizes Educational Freedom, Parental Rights, and State Flexibility

President Trump and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced a suite of federal actions supporting education freedom and state authority. Initiatives include an Education Freedom Tax Credit for scholarships, a $500 million charter school investment, and policy waivers enabling flexible use of Title I funds at the state level. Grants have been awarded to integrate literacy, artificial intelligence, and science-of-reading approaches. Recent Executive Orders prohibit biological boys from girls’ sports and spaces and reinforce parental rights in K–12 education. Related federal directives terminated certain spending on diversity and explicit curricula, while protecting prayer in schools. Additional investigations and enforcement actions were launched for issues of student and staff conduct.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Federal Register Notices on Higher Education Program Performance and Administration

On August 28, 2026, the Department of Education released several notices on annual performance report collections for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement, Talent Search, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, Veterans Upward Bound, and Upward Bound Math Science programs. These annual performance reports are required for grantees to document services, outcomes, and compliance, and data are used to evaluate progress, allocate funding, and respond to government reporting requirements. No changes were made to reporting frameworks aside from updating reporting universes and clarifying competitive preference priorities in some programs. Comments on these collection activities are due by September 28, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov

Education Department and SSA Launch New Disability Matching Program for Student Loans

The Department of Education announced on August 25, 2026, a matching program with the Social Security Administration under the Privacy Act to streamline Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) loan discharges for borrowers identified as disabled with Medical Improvement Not Expected status. The matching will expedite discharges for Title IV federal student loans and TEACH grants, with borrowers receiving advance notice and the opportunity to opt out before discharge. The program is effective beginning October 1, 2026, for an initial 18 months and may be renewed, with public comments invited through September 24, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

ED Announces New Payment Integrity Matching Program with Treasury

On August 25, 2026, the Department of Education disclosed a three-year matching program with the Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service to identify and recover improper payments in federal student aid and other financial assistance programs. Using the Do Not Pay (DNP) system, the program will verify pre-payment eligibility and track recipients across federal aid, grants, and scholarship programs. The initiative operates under new privacy law waivers and will accept public comments through September 24, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

AmeriCorps Submits Renewal of Education Award Transfer Forms

On August 27, 2026, AmeriCorps requested Office of Management and Budget renewal for the Education Award Transfer Forms. These forms facilitate the legal transfer of Segal Education Award funds between AmeriCorps members and qualified recipients. The collection is used annually for up to 900 transfer requests, with responses accepted through September 28, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Call for Publishers to Submit Tests for National Reporting System for Adult Education

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education issued a notice on August 26, 2026, inviting test publishers to submit assessments for review for use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education. Submissions for the current application cycle are due by October 1, 2026. Tests will be evaluated against federal standards for educational gain measurement.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Federal Register Notice: State and EIS Record Keeping under Part C

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announced on August 28, 2026, a proposed extension of record-keeping and reporting requirements under IDEA Part C for states and Early Intervention Services. The requirements apply to 56 state lead agencies managing IDEA Part C funds. Comments are due by October 27, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NIH Seeks Input on Emerging Science Areas for NIDCD Strategic Plan Update

On August 25, 2026, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders announced a Request for Information to help shape its 2028–2032 Strategic Plan. Input is sought regarding new and emerging scientific areas relevant to disorders of hearing, balance, and communication. Submissions are due by October 26, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Trump Limits Internships for International College Students: The administration imposed new restrictions on internships for international students, affecting work opportunities tied to higher education.
• Trump administration seeks to restrict internships for international students: The Trump administration announced new rules limiting internships for international students, changing participation rules for the work-study Optional Practical Training program.
• Government Proposes New Six-Figure Fee for H1-B Visas: The government unveiled a proposal to introduce a $103,265 application fee for H-1B visas, targeting high-skilled immigrant workers.
• Federal Funding for Research on Parents With Disabilities Vanishes: Federal support for research centers focusing on parents with disabilities was eliminated, causing program disruptions at major universities.
• Why colleges are cutting Black studies departments, majors and classes: Numerous U.S. colleges are reducing or eliminating Black studies courses and departments amid funding pressures and changing legislative climates.
• 3-year college degrees grow more popular in the US, saving time and cash. But critics aren't sold: Three-year undergraduate degrees are gaining ground at American institutions as an alternative to the traditional four-year path.
• Opinion | For a Bonkers New World, a ‘Brave New World’: This column considers how college education is adapting to rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
• Opinion | There’s Really Only One Way to Stop Students From Cheating: An opinion piece examines academic integrity challenges in the era of AI-enabled plagiarism and suggests institutional responses.

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