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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Dates: 2026-02-02 to 2026-02-08

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Hearing: 'The Science of Reading': The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education will hold a hearing titled 'The Science of Reading' on February 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET in Rayburn 2358-C, featuring representatives from the Alabama Reading Initiative and the University of Florida Literacy Institute.
• House Education Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing: 'Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology': The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will convene a hearing, 'Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology,' on February 11, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. ET in Rayburn 2175.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Business Meeting: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will meet on February 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET in Capitol 216 to consider legislation including a national programmable cloud laboratories network and space innovation bills.

Federal Government News

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 Signed Into Law

The President signed H.R. 7148, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026,” on February 3, providing consolidated funding for the federal government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The law authorizes spending for a number of education, research, and workforce programs. Agencies dependent on annual appropriations, including the Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, and NSF, will operate under this new funding authority for the fiscal year. The impact of line-item allocations for higher education and research sectors will become clearer as agencies release specific spending plans over the coming weeks.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Office of Indian Education Opens FY2026 Formula Grant Application Period

The U.S. Department of Education has invited applications for its Office of Indian Education Formula Grants for FY2026, with Part I of the Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) opening on February 2 and closing March 6, followed by Part II running from March 30 to May 11. Eligible applicants include LEAs, Indian Tribes, Bureau of Indian Education schools, Indian organizations, consortia, and Indian community-based organizations. Projects must be planned in consultation with Indian parents and tribal representatives, as detailed in the program requirements. Grants are intended to support culturally, linguistically, and academically relevant programs for Indian students and are awarded for one-year project periods. The Department anticipates approximately 1,250 awards, and estimates the average size of a grant at $85,000, with total requested program funding of $110.4 million pending final appropriation.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Department of Transportation Seeks Input on National Strategy for Transportation Digital Infrastructure

On February 4, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology released a Request for Information to inform the development of a national strategy for Transportation Digital Infrastructure (TDI). Stakeholders throughout academia and technology are asked to submit input by March 6 regarding research and development activities for modernizing multimodal operations, addressing interoperability issues, integrating AI and automation, and establishing standards for data governance and cybersecurity. Input received will support DOT efforts to align TDI investments with existing federal framework and future infrastructure planning.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Education Department Requests Comments on TIMSS 2027 Main Study International Questionnaire

The National Center for Education Statistics is soliciting public comments until March 5 on a revised information collection for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2027 Main Study International Questionnaire. The study assesses U.S. fourth and eighth grade student performance in mathematics and science compared to peers in other participating nations. The U.S. will begin recruitment for the main study in May 2026, with data collection scheduled for March 2027. The questionnaire is coordinated internationally by the IEA and adapted for U.S. settings, with a total estimated annual response burden of 8,047 hours across 19,236 respondents.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NIH Center for Scientific Review: Notice of Closed Meetings for Research Grant Evaluations

The NIH Center for Scientific Review announced upcoming closed review meetings in March 2026 pertaining to grant applications in various fields, including imaging technology, bioengineering, molecular pharmacology, and genetics. These virtual sessions are convened in accordance with federal law to maintain confidentiality of grant proposal materials and applicant data. The outcomes will help inform future NIH research funding decisions across relevant higher education and research institutions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

H.R. 7325 – Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026

Introduced in the House and referred to the Committees on Education and Workforce and Natural Resources, this bill would establish a federal commission to address the legacy of Indian boarding school policies, potentially engaging postsecondary and tribal education stakeholders.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R. 7327 – To Require a Pilot Program for Book Access Grants

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on February 3, H.R. 7327 would direct the Secretary of Education to pilot a grant program supporting eligible organizations’ book access activities, which may affect curriculum and literacy initiatives.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R. 7341 – Expanding Eligibility for Higher Education Grants

This bill, referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce, seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make certain part B institutions eligible for additional grants.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R. 7343 – Expanding Education and Workforce Training for Foster Youth

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, H.R. 7343 would amend the Social Security Act to expand education and workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care.

Sources: www.congress.gov

H.R. 7368 – Liability for Athletic Associations and Institutions

Referred to the House Judiciary Committee, H.R. 7368 would authorize civil actions against institutions or athletic associations that allow biologically male student athletes to compete in events intended exclusively for female student athletes, addressing evolving debates over collegiate athletic eligibility.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Trump Escalates Harvard Fight—but the University’s Position Has Strengthened: Analysis of recent changes in Harvard University's approach amid federal and political scrutiny.
• Pentagon says it will cut academic ties with Harvard University: The Pentagon announced termination of training, fellowship, and certificate programs with Harvard.
• Pentagon cuts academic ties with ‘woke’ Harvard to focus on training ‘warriors’: The Defense Department explained its move to end academic collaborations with Harvard University.
• With AI accountability stalling, boards must push tech giants for greater transparency: Industry voices call for greater transparency in AI from major technology companies as regulatory efforts stall.
• Opinion | What if the Valedictorians in America’s Schools Were the Cool Kids?: A commentary on academic culture and student recognition practices in American schools.

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