Weekly Update 7/20/2026
Weekly Update 7/20/2026 Capitol Advocacy Partners
President and Administration:
Health department rescinds $10 billion funding freeze on five Democratic states: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinded a $10 billion freeze on child care and social services funding for five states, including CA and NY, after repeated setbacks in a lawsuit challenging the pause. The agency sent letters to California, New York, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota voiding measures it had used since January to limit the states' access to federal child care and social services dollars, and it no longer requires the states to provide data the department said it needed to verify benefit eligibility. A federal judge had already…
Administration orders ICE to pause most vehicle stops after two fatal shootings: The administration ordered ICE officers to halt most vehicle stops nationwide after agents fatally shot two men in separate incidents, one in Houston and one in Biddeford, Maine, both during attempted traffic stops. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) had urged Homeland…
Congress:
Judge rules OMB cannot retroactively cancel grants under new agency rules: U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted summary judgment for 20 states, including California and New York, along with three governors, and the District of Columbia in their lawsuit challenging the administration's cancellation of billions of dollars in already promised federal grant awards, a final ruling on the merits rather than a procedural win. Talwani found that federal law does not…
House Republicans advance $95 billion reconciliation framework: House Republicans last week unveiled a budget framework for a $95 billion reconciliation package along party lines, approved by the House Budget Committee by Republicans the next day. The framework directs $60 billion to the House Armed Services Committee and $13 billion to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for defense and intelligence programs, $12 billion to the House Committee on Agriculture for farm aid…
Senator Johnson inherits Budget Committee gavel: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is set to become chair of the Senate Budget Committee following Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, inheriting a role that puts the longtime fiscal hawk at the center of Republicans' effort to pass their third-party line reconciliation bill. Sen. Johnson, known…
Senate Democrats block $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill over Iran war concerns: Senate Democrats defeated a motion to advance the annual National Defense Authorization Act on a 50 to 46 vote Tuesday, falling short of the 60 votes needed after the bill became entangled in a partisan dispute over defense spending levels and the resumed conflict with Iran. The legislation, which passed the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, would provide…
Sen. Darline Graham will seek full term to her late brother’s seat: Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) announced she will run for a full six-year U.S. Senate term after being appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to temporarily fill the seat of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Her decision follows…
California:
California sues five cities over alleged housing plan failures: California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced lawsuits Thursday against five cities– Half Moon Bay, Turlock, Ridgecrest, Costa Mesa, and Calexico– for allegedly failing to update zoning rules or new housing. State law requires local governments to set aside adequate land for growth every eight years, but these cities…
The University of California system sets timeline on SAT requirement decision: The University of California's Academic Senate agreed to deliver a recommendation on reinstating standardized testing in admissions by next summer, days after a faculty panel rescinded an earlier two-year timeline for the review. If the Board of Regents acts on that recommendation, a decision…
Education:
Workforce Pell Grant program launches as states race for approval: The administration's new Workforce Pell Grant program officially launched today, 7/20, allowing low-income students to use Pell Grants for short-term training programs, and states racing for federal approval. Pennsylvania has already advanced…
States sue to block cuts to school mental health grants: Maine and 14 other states, including California, sued the administration to block cuts to a $1 billion school mental health grant program, the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program, arguing the administration is defying a December court order by planning to terminate…
House panel advances 10 bills to break up Education Department: The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced 10 bills to codify the administration's plan to shift Education Department programs to other federal agencies, including moving federal student aid to Treasury and K-12 programs to Labor. Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) called the department's 1979…
Labor secretary nominee grilled over special education transfer plan: Labor secretary nominee Keith Sonderling, former Deputy Secretary of Labor and then Acting Secretary following Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation, faced sharp questioning at his Senate confirmation hearing over the administration's proposal to move special education oversight…
Administration limits how long international students can stay in the US: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule Friday limiting international students to four years in the country before they must file for an extension, ending the "duration of status" system that has been in place since 1978. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin…