Jul 8, 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) higher education provisions are effective July 1, and financial aid offices are on the front lines of putting them into practice.
Melanie Storey, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, joins hosts Mushtaq Gunja and Jon Fansmith to talk about the implementation challenges, from new program-level accountability requirements to the practical questions about student aid that campuses are working through.
Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:
"Uniform Guidance" Grantmaking Rule
Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance
Federal Register | May 28, 2026
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance
Summary: Office of Management and Budget Government-Wide
Regulations for Federal Financial Assistance
ACE | June 16, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Summary-OMB-Federal-Financial-Assistance-Regs-060226.pdf
Sen. Collins Asks OMB to Withdraw Parts of Grant Rule, Extend
Comment Period
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations | July 6, 2026
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/sen-collins-asks-omb-to-withdraw-parts-of-grant-rule-extend-comment-period
Comments Flood OMB Proposal to Cement Political Control of
Grants
Inside Higher Ed | July 7, 2026
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/07/07/comments-flood-omb-proposal-political-control
"Professional" Degree & Graduate Loan Limits Rule
Nursing Gains ‘Professional’ Label for Student Loans After
Judge’s Ruling, But Theology Now Dropped
The Associated Press | June 29, 2026
https://apnews.com/article/nursing-student-loans-professional-caps-theology-061ef7c1a98688e5338ff5128821a7b9
Professional Degree Definition Remains Contested as Student Loan
Changes Take Effect July 1
ACE | June 29, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/New-ED-Rules-in-Effect-July-1.aspx
Accountability Rule (Earnings Test)
U.S. Department of Education Issues Final Rule to Hold All
Colleges and Universities Accountable for Low-Earning
Programs
Department of Education | June 29, 2026
https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-final-rule-hold-all-colleges-and-universities-accountable-low-earning-programs
Financial Aid Shift to Hit Low-Wage Fields Like Religion,
Cosmetology and Arts
The Washington Post | June 30, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/06/30/bible-beauty-performing-arts-schools-face-cuts-financial-aid/
Comments on Education Department’s Proposed Rule on
Accountability
ACE | May 20, 2026
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Comments-AHEAD-Accountability-NPRM-052026.pdf
OBBB Student Loan Changes
July 1 Brings Big Student Loan Changes. Here's What You Need to
Know
NPR | June 30, 2026
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/10/nx-s1-5835633/student-loans-guide-education-changes-repayment-plan
Comments on the Education Department's Implementation of OBBB
Financial Aid Provisions
ACE | March 2, 2026
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Comments-ED-RISE-030226.pdf
Judges Strike Down Trump’s Restrictions on Loan Forgiveness for
Public Servants
The Washington Post | June 30, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/06/30/court-strikes-down-trumps-limits-loan-forgiveness-public-servants/
Dear Colleague Letter on Housing
Dear Colleague Letter
HUD | June 23, 2026
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28317431-06232026-as-trainors-dcl-on-racially-segregated-school-housing87/
Dear Colleague Letter Asks Colleges to End Affinity Housing
Inside Higher Ed | June 26, 2026
Supreme Court Ruling on Transgender Athletes
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2026/06/26/dear-colleague-letter-asks-colleges-end-affinity-housing
Supreme Court Decision on Transgender Athletes
Supreme Court Allows States to Bar Transgender Athletes From
Girls’ Sports
The New York Times | June 30, 2026n
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/supreme-court-transgender-athletes.html