Weekly Update- 01/05/2026

Weekly Update 1/5/2026 Capitol Advocacy Partners

President and Administration:

What to know about Maduro, his capture, and Trump’s plans for Venezuela: Nicolás Maduro plead not guilty today (1/5) in federal court in New York after a U.S. military and intelligence operation deposed the Venezuelan president and removed him and his wife from Caracas on Saturday (1/3). Maduro faces a four-count indictment, including narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracies, stemming from long-standing U.S. charges that he and his inner circle profited from drug…

Congress: 

Three-bill funding package released following House-Senate breakthrough: The three-bill funding package covering Energy and Water, Commerce Justice Science and Interior Environment programs was released after a bicameral agreement on topline spending levels.package would fund the Departments of Energy, Commerce, Interior and Justice, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, federal science programs and water infrastructure, through the end of the fiscal…

Hearings:

• On Wednesday, January 7, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights is anticipated to hold a hearing to examine “holding rogue judges accountable.

Education:

Florida’s school choice headache: millions of unused dollars:  Florida’s rapid expansion of universal school choice has left more than $400 million in taxpayer-funded education vouchers unused, state audits found. About 500,000 students receive vouchers averaging $8,000, but enrollment verification failures and administrative strain have left…

California:
Judge halts administration plan to divert billions of dollars from homeless housing: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s plan to redirect billions of dollars in federal homelessness funding away from permanent supportive housing, ordering the Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue processing grants under existing guidelines. The ruling responds to lawsuits filed by a coalition of states, including California, along with local governments and nonprofit providers, who argue the proposed funding changes would destabilize homelessness programs and force many people…

Weekly Update- 12/15/2025

Weekly Update 12/15/2025 Capitol Advocacy Partners

President and Administration:

National Trust sues to stop Trump’s ballroom construction: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt work on Trump’s 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, arguing the administration illegally demolished the East Wing annex and began construction without required federal…

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) temporarily pauses homelessness funding overhaul just ahead of court hearing: Last Monday (12/8), HUD temporarily withdrew a proposed funding notice that would have sharply reduced permanent housing support for people experiencing homelessness, pulling the policy shortly before a court hearing on lawsuits challenging the change. The withdrawn policy would have capped permanent housing at 30%…

Trump seeks to cut restrictions on marijuana through planned order: Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order that would direct federal agencies to pursue reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, significantly loosening federal restrictions while stopping short of legalization. The proposal would reduce regulatory barriers for research and provide financial relief for legal marijuana businesses. The President discussed the plan with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)…

Trump defies GOP critics by signing controversial order threatening states over AI laws: Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to challenge state-level artificial intelligence regulations that the administration views as conflicting with its goal of maintaining U.S. leadership in AI development. The order authorizes the Justice Department to sue states over laws deemed overly restrictive, encourages federal agencies to consider withholding funds, and calls for drafting federal…

The EPA is wiping mention of human-caused climate change from its website: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has removed or altered numerous website pages that previously described climate change as driven by human activity, shifting language to emphasize natural processes or deleting content altogether. Pages citing scientific…

Congress: 

Senate rejects dueling health care bills as Affordable Care Act (ACA) deadline looms: On Thursday, 12/11, the Senate voted 51-48 on advancing a GOP health care plan that would have expanded health savings accounts (HSA) as an alternative to the expiring ACA tax credits. Democrats’ plan to extend the Covid-era enhanced subsidies for three years…

Appropriations: House and Senate appropriators are still working to resolve top-line numbers for the Labor-HHS, Defense, and Energy and Water bills. On the Democrat side, top appropriators are ready to dive into the details once the majority sets the overall allocations. But until those final allocations are resolved, bipartisan negotiations on the remaining bills can’t begin their conferences. Some of the Senate Republicans who have been objecting to bringing up the FY26 minibus may be ready…

Senators’ Pay During Shutdowns: The Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved a resolution that would withhold senators’ pay for the duration of a government shutdown. The resolution (S. Res. 526), authored by Senator Kennedy (R-LA), would require the Secretary of the Senate to withhold…

Hearings:

• On Tuesday, 12/16, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is anticipated to hold a hearing on legislative improvements to public safety communications in the United States.

• On Wednesday, 12/17, the House Administration Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation is scheduled to hold a hearing: “The Future of Constituent Engagement with Congress.”

California:

How Gavin Newsom became the Democrats’ 2028 front-runner: Ezra Klein of The New York Times conducted an interview with Governor Newsom to discuss his recent political strategies and how Newsom…

Education:

Education negotiators reach deal on Workforce Pell Grants: Education Department negotiators reached consensus in just five days on implementing new Workforce Pell Grants, expanding Pell eligibility to short-term training programs as brief as eight weeks. The proposal closely follows the law passed by Congress this summer and reflects a faster approach than prior negotiations…

California schools inch closer to rescuing mental health funds slashed by Trump: California schools may temporarily recover mental health grant funds the administration attempted to cancel, thanks to a Dec. 4 court ruling requiring the U.S. Department of Education to release remaining money. The reversal affects districts that documented harm, restoring…

To ease civil rights backlog, McMahon orders back staff she tried to fire: Education Secretary Linda McMahon has ordered over 250 Office for Civil Rights (OCR) employees—previously targeted for layoffs—to return by Dec. 15 to address a backlog of roughly 25,000 civil rights complaints. The move comes after months of legal battles…

Do federal privacy laws require schools to protect — or reveal — students’ LGBTQ+ identity?: Federal lawmakers are sharply divided over whether the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) should shield students’ LGBTQ+ identities from parents or require schools to disclose them. During a Dec. 3 hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee’s Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education…

DOJ joins Loudoun County transgender student inclusion lawsuit: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved to join a lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board (Va.), arguing the district violated the religious rights of two Christian high school boys suspended after objecting to a transgender student using the boys’ locker…

House subcommittee advances 18 bills to protect minors online: The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade advanced 18 bipartisan bills aimed at strengthening online protections for children and teens, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and COPPA 2.0. The measures now move to the full House Energy…

Supreme Court turns down book ban case: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Little v. Llano County, leaving in place a lower court ruling that allows states and local governments to decide which books public libraries may remove. The case — which challenged removals tied to topics like racism and transgender identities — could have been the first major book-ban ruling since…

NACSA/CLE: Indianapolis tries to shape a ‘grand bargain’ for charters, district: Indianapolis is weighing a “grand bargain” that would let charter schools share district buses and unused buildings in exchange for giving up some autonomy. A state-ordered panel is drafting recommendations, likely creating a new governing body to oversee shared…

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…

Weekly Update- 12/01/2025

Weekly Update 12/1/2025 Capitol Advocacy Partners

President and Administration:

National Guard shooting suspect is Afghan man, official says: A 29-year-old Afghan immigrant, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members, killing one, outside a Washington, D.C., Metro station last Wednesday (11/26) after driving across the country from Bellingham, Washington. Lakanwal….

Judge dismisses Georgia criminal case against Trump: Georgia’s criminal case accusing Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 election has been fully dismissed. Judge Scott McAfee ended the prosecution on Wednesday (11/26) after lead prosecutor Peter Skandalakis said he could not pursue it, citing the difficulty of trying a sitting…

EPA to abandon air pollution rule that would prevent thousands of U.S. deaths: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing its defense of a Biden-era rule that tightened limits on fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), effectively abandoning the stricter standard. In a court filing, the agency argued the rule was improperly issued and should be vacated before states…

Congress: 

Appropriations: House GOP appropriators aren’t yet ready to advance the two biggest outstanding funding bills – Defense and Labor-HHS-Education – and are instead rooting for a cross-chamber compromise on several smaller funding measures, with sights on enactment of these measures by the end of December. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN)…

Hearings:

• On Tuesday, 12/2, the House Small Business Committee is expected to hold a hearing “Main Street Under Attack: The Cost of Crime on Small Business.” 

• On Wednesday, 12/3, the House Committee on Homeland Security is anticipated to hold a hearing “When Badges Become Targets: How Anti-Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers.”

Education:

Treasury Seeks input on new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, comments due Dec 26, 2025: The administration plans to release guidance allowing states to opt into a new federal scholarship tax credit program starting in 2026, ahead of its 2027 launch. Created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the program would offer taxpayers up to $1,700…

Chair Cassidy launches major investigation into liberal states failing to protect girls and women in sports, arguing such states may be defying Trump’s executive order: Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has launched a major investigation into 18 states and Washington, D.C., over policies that allow transgender students…

The Education Department gave another agency power to distribute its money. It hasn't gone well: The administration’s early effort to shift federal career and technical education funding from the Education Department to the Labor Department has been plagued by technical issues, delays, and communication problems. The move was meant to streamline…

CA ED CLIENTS ONLY: First look at 2026-27 state budget: Schools and community colleges are fine — for the moment: The Legislative Analyst’s Office projects higher-than-expected revenue for California’s 2026–27 budget due to surging AI-related income taxes, resulting in a $7.4 billion increase for schools and community colleges. Under Proposition 98…

Weekly Update- 11/24/2025

Weekly Update 11/24/2025 Capitol Advocacy Partners

President and Administration:

Acting FEMA chief out after short, troubled tenure: Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson resigned last Monday (11/17), just hours after telling POLITICO that he had “no idea” about reports of his departure. Richardson is also leaving his role leading the Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. His departure had been rumored for two weeks, with former FEMA officials predicting he would leave by the end of the hurricane season. Richardson has served as FEMA’s senior official…

Comey, James cases dismissed as judge disqualifies interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan: Today (11/24), a federal judge threw out the criminal cases against former Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that Trump’s…

Congress: 

House: Is out of session and will return for legislative business on December 1.

Senate: Is out of session and will return for legislative business on December 1.

Appropriations- Little sign of spending progress as top appropriators meet: Top appropriators from the House and Senate met for the first time since the partial government shutdown but made no progress toward a fiscal 2026 spending deal. Participants included Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Collins supports…

Nydia Velázquez is stepping down: Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) announced she will retire at the end of her current term in January of 2027, when the new Congress is sworn in, concluding more than three decades in Congress and opening a rare vacancy in a strongly progressive New York City…

Greene’s exit deals a blow to G.O.P., putting rifts on display: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) abrupt decision to resign has created immediate uncertainty for House Republicans, narrowing an already tight majority and exposing deeper divisions within the conference. Her departure, which is anticipated to be on January 5, 2026, follows public criticism of what she described as Congress’s failure to advance key legislative priorities, reflecting broader frustration among some conservative…

Education:

Administration launches plan to dismantle Education Department: The administration has begun executing its plan to dismantle the Education Department by shifting major functions to other federal agencies. Six offices will move, including K–12 and higher education programs to the Labor Department, Indian Education to Interior, international education to State, and child care and medical…

What state education chiefs think as Trump moves programs out of the Ed. Dept.: State education chiefs are reacting to the administration’s plan to shift major Education Department programs to other federal agencies. While some Republican-led states say they were expecting the change and believe funding will continue smoothly, many Democratic-led states warn it will create confusion, delays, and reduced…

New audit exposes accountability faults in Florida's massive school choice program: Florida lawmakers are under pressure to fix the state’s expanding school choice program after an audit found major accountability problems. Enrollment has surged past 500,000 students, but the state can’t accurately track who is in public or private schools, leading to funding errors, including a $47 million…

Another religious school to apply for public charter status in Oklahoma: A Jewish school is now seeking approval to operate as a virtual public charter in Oklahoma, reigniting a debate that escalated earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked on a similar bid from a Catholic virtual…