Weekly Update- 12/08/2025
Weekly Update 12/8/2025 Capitol Advocacy Partners
Appropriations
Senate GOP leaders are trying to take up a package of FY26 appropriations bills amid objections. The package was expected to include some combination of the Commerce-Justice-Science (S. 2354), Interior-Environment (S. 2431), Labor-HHS (S. 2587), Transportation-HUD (S. 2465), and Defense (S. 2572, H.R. 4016) bills. Senate conservatives, including Scott…
President and Administration:
Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies: The Trump administration’s new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program ties a portion of funding to whether states adopt preferred health policies — a move Democrats and health advocates call unprecedented and coercive. While half the money will be distributed evenly and another quarter based on need, the remaining $3.75 billion depend on states passing laws aligned with Trump. These include bipartisan measures like…
Libraries and museums get federal funding back after Trump cuts: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the independent agency in charge of awarding federal grant funding to libraries and museums, is reinstating all grants that were previously terminated by the administration. A short statement posted on the agency’s website last….
Congress:
House on track for National Defense Authorization Act vote this week: A compromised version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which puts Congress’ stamp on Pentagon programs and policy each year, has recently been released. The bill would add $8 billion to Trump’s defense budget while restricting troop…
Hearings:
Tomorrow, December 9, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is anticipated to hold a hearing to examine protecting children online against offenders.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families is expected to hold a hearing tomorrow to examine building pathways, focusing on advancing workforce development in the 21st century.
On Wednesday, December 10, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is expected to hold a hearing on the future of retirement.
California:
Gavin Newsom accuses Trump of wildfire aid snub: Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the administration of refusing a routine meeting on wildfire recovery funding as the governor sought more recovery aid in Washington, calling the move unprecedented as the state seeks nearly $34 billion in federal assistance after devastating Los Angeles–area fires. Newsom’s office says the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined to make the FEMA’s acting director or any other official available, which they argue reflects a broader neglect of California and a break from past disaster-response norms. The dispute highlights…
Education:
Workforce development portal moves to Labor: The federal portal used by states to submit workforce development plans has shifted to the Labor Department, a change primarily affecting state education agencies for now. Labor and Education will jointly administer Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, including adult education…
20 states push back as Ed. Dept. hands programs to other agencies: Twenty Democratic-led states—including California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, along with the District of Columbia—have filed an amended lawsuit challenging the administration’s transfer of major Education Department programs to other…
Education Department outsourcing is unlawful, amended lawsuit claims: A coalition of school districts, unions, and a disability rights group filed an amended lawsuit Nov. 26, arguing the administration’s plan to shift major Education Department programs to other federal agencies is unlawful and will harm students. The complaint seeks to block interagency…
Funding ends for school mental health projects after a ‘roller coaster’ year: The administration is ending funding Dec. 31 for up to 174 school mental health projects created under a $1 billion post-Uvalde federal initiative, cutting short grants that were supposed to last five years. The Education Department says the Biden-era awards relied on “DEI-based” priorities, but districts and universities say the cancellations are disrupting counselor pipelines, forcing staff…
CA ED CLIENTS ONLY: DOJ sues California over in-state tuition for undocumented students: The U.S. Department of Justice sued California on Thursday, challenging state laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition and receive state financial aid. The complaint targets Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and leaders of the University of California, California State University and the community college system. DOJ argues the policies illegally…
Houses passes bill that would require public schools to disclose foreign funding over $10,000: The House on Wednesday (12/3) passed H.R. 1005, the CLASS Act, which would require public K-12 schools to report foreign funding above $10,000 to the U.S. Education Department, including the source, country of origin, amount and any attached conditions. Lawmakers also approved two related measures targeting foreign influence: H.R. 1049, requiring schools to disclose foreign-funded instructional…
Administration effort to end 1960s school desegregation cases faces a hurdle: A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the administration’s effort to quickly end a series of 1960s school desegregation cases, rejecting a bid by the state, the Concordia Parish school system and the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss a 1965 lawsuit without proving…
Treasury, IRS seek comments on federal school choice program: The Treasury Department and IRS are seeking public comments through Dec. 26 on implementation of a new federal tax credit–funded school choice program created under the Republican-backed “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” The program, set to begin in 2027, allows taxpayers to donate up to $1,700…
The billionaire pushing taxpayer-funded school vouchers: Billionaire Jeff Yass, a low-profile trader turned political megadonor, has become one of the nation’s most influential — and controversial — champions of school vouchers, pouring more than $350 million into politics since 2015 to advance school choice initiatives. Driven by libertarian beliefs shaped by Milton Friedman, Yass sees vouchers as a philanthropic mission to rescue children from failing public schools, though critics argue his spending gives one…