Capitol Advocacy Partners Weekly Update 9/22/2025
President and Administration:
Trump ends annual report on U.S. hunger amid rising food insecurity: The administration announced it will end the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual Household Food Security report, first introduced in the 1990s. The decision comes as last year’s report found that 18 million households…
Department of Transportation looking to shut off funding to minority business resource centers: The Department of Transportation, under Trump’s second term, is moving to defund its Small Business Transportation Resource Centers (SBTRCs), which help small businesses — including minority-owned firms — compete for federal contracts. Additionally, SBTRCs administer the USDOT Bonding Education Program (BEP), assist with identifying access to capital…
Education:
RFK Jr., McMahon say school mental health screenings turn students into patients: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized school-based mental health screenings, arguing they “medicalize” children and treat them “like patients,” while calling instead for improvements through nutrition…
Ed. Dept. will emphasize ‘patriotic education’ in grant competitions: The Department of Education announced it will prioritize “patriotic education” in competitive grants, framing the approach as one that highlights the nation’s founding ideals and unifying principles. Secretary McMahon also launched the America 250 Civics Coalition, a group of more than 40 organizations—including Hillsdale College, PragerU, and Turning Point USA…
Administration cancels dozens more grants, hitting civics, arts, and higher ed.: Trump has escalated its cancellation of federal education grants, cutting off funding for dozens of ongoing projects in civics, arts, literacy, special education, and college readiness. The Department of Education has issued “non-continuation” notices to at least nine GEAR UP programs, nine arts education initiatives, nearly 20 American history projects, and multiple efforts to provide…