Weekly Update 4/13/2026
Weekly Update 4/13/2026 Capitol Advocacy Partners
President and Administration:
Vance and Iran fail to reach deal after marathon negotiations: President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy would begin blockading Iranian maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports, with enforcement beginning today (April 13) after negotiations broke down between Vice President J.D. Vance and Iranian officials over Iran refusal to commit…
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Infographics: Politico Pro has analyzed the implications of the President’s FY27 Budget Request for the Departments of Energy (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS). In his budget request, the president is again calling for the creation of an Administration for a Healthy America, which would absorb functions from five other HHS agencies or offices, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Service…
Congress:
Tax Day is the GOP's focus as Congress returns to war, shutdown and other challenges: Republicans return to Washington this week seeking to highlight the pocketbook benefits of last year's tax and spending package ahead of Tax Day on Wednesday, even as rising energy prices and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threaten that message. The House is also contending with a series of unresolved internal disputes, including an ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown…
California:
Swalwell suspends California governor campaign, resigns from Congress amid misconduct allegations: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) suspended his campaign for California governor yesterday (4/12) after multiple women, including a former staffer, accused of sexual assault and misconduct in reports published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. Swalwell denied the allegations but acknowledged lapses in judgment. The same day, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is investigating one of the alleged….
Education:
Education Department finalizes definitions for AI and workforce readiness in grant competitions: The Education Department released final priorities and definitions on artificial intelligence and workforce readiness for federal discretionary grant competitions, building on Education Secretary Linda McMahon's stated priorities. The finalized rules prioritize AI literacy…
Administration rescinds agreements to protect transgender students: The U.S. Department of Education terminated civil rights agreements with five school districts and one college, ending protections for transgender students negotiated under previous administrations. The affected institutions include La Mesa-Spring Valley School District…
Draft anti-DEI rule draws strong pushback from education leaders: The General Services Administration proposed a rule in January that would require all federal funding recipients, including schools and colleges, to certify they do not operate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs. The public comment period closed March 30…
Gaps in early childhood investment drive up K-12 costs: A study published in the journal Nature Communications found that total investments in children over the course of childhood are roughly $86,000 more for higher-income children and up to $75,000 more for White children compared to Black and Hispanic children, based on an analysis of 10 nationally representative surveys. Gaps in investment by income and race exceed 50% before kindergarten, driven largely by disparities in housing an…
COVID remote learning put drain on college enrollment: A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the shift to fully virtual K-12 instruction during the 2020-21 school year reduced FAFSA submission rates by 4.2 percentage points, first-year college enrollment by 2.5 percentage points, and ACT test-taking rates by 4.8 percentage points. While FAFSA….
LGBTQ+ students report that schools feel more hostile: An annual survey by Glisten, a research and advocacy organization focused on LGBTQ+ issues in K-12, found that two-thirds of LGBTQ+ students reported feeling unsafe because of their identity during the 2024-25 school year, with over half saying they faced related discrimination. Some 41% of transgender and gender-expansive students…
Education and Labor departments launch first K-12 grant competitions under interagency agreement: The Education and Labor departments launched their first K-12 grant competitions under an interagency agreement, continuing the administration's effort to disperse Education Department programs across the federal government. The Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program will now be awarded through the Labor Department's…
Walberg bill would move adult education to Labor Department: House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which would formally transfer adult education programs from the Education Department to the Labor Department. The bill, A Stronger Workforce for America…
Judge sides with NYC after administration pulls federal funding for magnet schools: A federal judge ruled that the administration improperly revoked millions of dollars in federal grant funding for New York City magnet schools, finding the Education Department failed to follow procedures required under Title IX—a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the administration to decide…