Sep 24, 2026
Congressional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year, new proposals on international students and visas, accreditation, and colleges’ tax-exempt status are all on the agenda as Congress returns to Washington for a short stretch before the midterms.
Hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer break down what happened during the August recess and what to expect leading up to the election on the season opener of dotEDU.
Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:
Secretary McMahon's Call to Action
Secretary McMahon's Call to Action Department of Education
Issues National Call to Action for Campuses
ACE | August 10,
2026
https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/ED-Issues-National-Call-to-Action-for-Campuses.aspx
Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Commit to Education
Overhaul
Politico | August 3, 2026
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/03/trump-admin-asks-colleges-to-sign-on-to-their-priorities-01022271
McMahon Sends Reform ‘Questionnaire’ to Colleges
Inside Higher Ed | August 3, 2026
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2026/08/03/mcmahon-sends-reform-questionnaire-colleges
Appropriations & Federal Agencies
White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants
The New York Times | September 20, 2026
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/science/nih-omb-grants-bhattacharya-vought.html
Researchers Accuse NIH of Viewpoint Discrimination in New
Class Action Lawsuit
Inside Higher Ed | September 18, 2026
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/09/18/researchers-accuse-nih-viewpoint-discrimination
ED,
NSF Move to Implement Elements of Pending OMB Grant Proposal
ACE | August 27, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/ED-NSF-Move-to-Implement-Uniform-Guidance.aspx
International Updates
International Students Face More New Hurdles This Year
ACE | September 10, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/International-Students-Face-New-Immigration-Hurdles-This-Year-.aspx
Judge blocks DHS rule limiting foreign students to four-year
stays
The Washington Post | September 14, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/09/14/judge-blocks-dhs-rule-limiting-foreign-students-four-year-stays/
Colleges Dodge Trump’s $103K H-1B Visa Fee
Politico | August 24, 2026
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/08/colleges-dodge-trumps-103k-h-1b-visa-fee-01048239?site=pro&prod=alert&prodname=alertmail&linktype=article&source=email
Accreditation
ACE
Comments on Proposed Accreditation Rule
ACE | September 16, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Comments-ED-Draft-Rule-Accreditation-091726.pdf
Will
Trump’s Accreditation Revamp Force Campus Changes?
Inside Higher Ed | September 16, 2026
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/accreditation/2026/09/16/will-trumps-accreditation-revamp-force-campus-changes
Quick Hits – Tax-Exempt Status, Section 117, & Athletics
IRS
Proposes Rules to Strip Tax Exemptions From Colleges Using Race in
Policies
The Wall Street Journal | September 3, 2026
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/irs-proposes-rules-to-strip-tax-exemptions-from-colleges-using-race-in-policies-774a32af?mod=education_news_article_pos1
Trump Administration Aims to Strip Schools’ Tax Exemption if
They Consider Race
The Washington Post | September 3, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/09/03/trump-administration-aims-strip-schools-tax-exemption-if-they-consider-race/
Letter to the Editor | The Debate Over Foreign Money in
Higher Education
The Wall Street Journal | September 7, 2026
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-debate-over-foreign-money-in-higher-education-b4923e88?mod=letterstoeditor_article_pos2
College Sports Bill Moves Forward in Senate with Democratic
Support
Politico | September 15, 2026
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/09/15/congress/college-sports-bill-advances-01078084
Republican Bill Aims to Cap Numbers of International Student
Athletes
Inside Higher Ed | September 15, 2026
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/09/15/gop-bill-aims-cap-international-student-athletes