Capitol Advocacy Partners Weekly Update 11/10/2025
President and Administration:
Trump’s big push for apprenticeships has yet to take off: Growth in the nation’s Registered Apprenticeship programs has slowed under the current administration, with fewer than 700,000 active apprentices as of late September, a modest 3.9 percent increase from last year. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the ongoing government shutdown has delayed new apprenticeship…
ICE's detainee population reaches 66,000, a new record high, statistics show: The number of detainees in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this week reached a record 66,000, reflecting the administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts. ICE’s detainee population has increased by nearly 70 percent since the President’s second term began…
Federal judge, warning an ‘existential threat’ to democracy, resigns: Retired federal judge Mark L. Wolf warned that Trump poses an “existential threat to democracy,” accusing him of using the law to punish opponents and protect allies. In The Atlantic, Wolf said he resigned from the Massachusetts federal bench to speak freely about what he sees as a breakdown of the rule…
Trump’s $2,000 tariff ‘dividend’ idea has some holes: Trump has floated a plan to distribute at least $2,000 per person (excluding high-income earners, which Trump did not define) to most Americans, funded by revenues from tariffs his administration has imposed. However, analysts doubt the math: payouts could reach $300 billion or more, while the government collected $195 billion…
Congress:
Congressional Budget Office believed to be hacked by foreign actor: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was recently hacked by a suspected foreign actor, raising concerns that communications between lawmakers and the agency may have been compromised. Officials discovered the breach early and have since implemented additional monitoring and security controls to protect…
California:
Santa Clara didn't wait for Trump's health care cuts to hit. Other counties may not be far behind: Santa Clara County voters approved Measure A, a sales tax increase expected to generate $1.5 billion over five years to offset federal health care funding cuts under the current administration. The measure, passing with 57 percent of the vote, aims to sustain county-owned hospitals facing losses from H.R. 1, which could cost California hospitals up to $130 billion over the next decade and leave millions…
Education:
Push for Indiana schools to share buses and buildings ramps up: Indiana lawmakers and local leaders are advancing efforts for Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools to share buses and facilities, fueling debate over governance, resources, and school access. The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance will release recommendations this month on how…
The funding worry over school mental health services: Federal efforts to expand school mental health services are in turmoil amid President Trump’s anti-DEI policies, court battles, and the ongoing government shutdown. The administration’s decision to cancel and restructure mental health grants that were renewed after the 2022 Uvalde shooting has left schools…
Civil Rights oversight and accountability under strain: A federal judge barred all federal layoffs during the shutdown, yet Education Department staff in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) still received termination notices effective Nov. 3, potentially affecting over 200 employees despite the injunction. The OCR, which investigates discrimination complaints, has already lost several regional offices…
A small change in Special Ed. rules could affect equity, accountability, advocates warn: The Education Department has proposed ending a reporting requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that ensures states disclose changes to how they measure “significant disproportionality” in special education. Advocates warn the move would weaken transparency…
Committee reaches consensus on Education Department student loan rule proposal: The Education Department announced that a rulemaking committee reached consensus on 17 provisions reforming federal student loan regulations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The agreement covers changes to the Repayment Assistance Plan and defines..
States, districts grapple with declining enrollment: Public schools nationwide are facing sharp enrollment declines driven by lower birth rates and expanding school choice programs. States including Alabama, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland are experiencing record…