Weekly Update 3/16/2026
Weekly Update 3/16/2026 Capitol Advocacy Partners
President and Administration:
Why Trump is cracking down on Medicaid services provided at home: The administration is increasing scrutiny of Medicaid-funded home and community-based care services following a sharp rise in spending that accelerated during the pandemic. These programs allow individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities to receive assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation in their homes rather than in institutional settings. Federal officials say the rapid expansion…
The White House is betting the Iran war ends before the economic pain sets in: The administration believes the country can withstand a short-term (about a month) rise in oil prices tied to the conflict with Iran. Oil prices surged to around $120 per barrel before dropping to about $80. Officials have sought to reassure markets and lawmakers while exploring options…
Congress:
GOP lawmaker makes formal switch to Independent: Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent, making him "the sole independent member of the House of Representatives." Kiliey intends to caucus with Republicans, maintaining that the switch to independent was prompted by disgust with the gerrymandering battle raging around the country, including California's decision to redraw the House map ahead of November's midterms. He intends to run for reelection…
House Budget chair eyes more safety-net cuts for second megabill: House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) said Republicans are expecting to focus on "fraud prevention" in federal and state safety-net programs in a new reconciliation…
Senator announces Keep Your Pay Act: Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Keep Your Pay Act, a proposal aimed at reducing taxes for working and middle-class Americans. The plan would make the first $75,000 of income tax-free for households filing jointly, with proportional relief for single filers and heads of household, effectively more than doubling the standard…
Hearings:
The House Committee on the Budget is anticipated to hold a hearing on the Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook tomorrow.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is expected to hold a hearing Wednesday on the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
Education:
Federal funding disruptions for schools are far from over: Public schools may see continued disruptions in federal funding availability and disbursements. In this administration’s first year at least $12 billion in previously awarded federal education funding was disrupted. Formula grants to school districts arrived weeks late, and more than $2.2 billion in competitive grants were abruptly…
San Jose State University sues to keep students from being barred from federal financial aid: San Jose State University (SJSU) has sued the U.S. Department of Education, accusing the agency of unlawfully threatening to cut federal funding over the university’s decision to allow a transgender volleyball player to compete. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose by the California…
Education Department sending 118 programs to other agencies: The administration is shifting more than 100 U.S. Department of Education programs to other agencies as part of its bid to shutter the agency altogether, with the moves a product of "interagency agreements" between the Education Department and other agencies. As of March 12, the Education Department has struck nine…
Head Start providers fight to claw back ICE protections: A dozen Head Start associations representing more than 100,000 children nationwide sent a March 10 letter urging Congress to bar immigration agents from entering Head Start, child care, and pre-K facilities, including parking lots. Immigration enforcement had been restricted around schools, hospitals, and places of worship for nearly three decades, but those protections were rescinded in January 2025…
Study links increased broadband access to teen suicide risk: A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research links the expansion of broadband internet in the 2010s to worsening youth mental health outcomes. Research found that as broadband coverage expanded from about 70% to 90% of U.S. communities between 2009 an…
Appeals court kills Biden-era student loan repayment plan: An appeals court last week reversed a lower court decision dismissing a challenge to a Biden-era repayment plan, putting an end to the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program, which set borrowers' monthly payments based on their income, with some payments as little as $0 a month. A three-judge panel in the…
California Board of Education delays decision on new eligibility rules for schools serving high-risk students: The California State Board of Education last week postponed a decision on whether to approve tougher eligibility rules for a special category of schools that serve high-risk students, facing pushback from charter school advocates. The board had been slated to vote on a recommendation that high-risk students be enrolled at a school for at…