GW Weekly Federal Update (July 10)

Recent Federal Actions

• Last week, President Trump signed the 870-page reconciliation package, H.R. 1, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” into law after the Senate version passed the House in a 218–214 vote. The law introduces sweeping changes to federal student aid, particularly for graduate and professional students. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program will be eliminated, and borrowing for graduate students will be capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 total, while professional students may borrow up to $50,000 annually with a $200,000 lifetime limit. A new overall federal loan borrowing limit of $257,000 will apply to all students (excluding Parent PLUS loans). Separately, Parent PLUS Loans will be limited to $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total.
  
  The law also overhauls loan repayment options by eliminating all current income-driven repayment plans by July 1, 2028. Borrowers will be required to transition to one of two new repayment plans starting in 2026. On Pell Grants, the law removes eligibility for students receiving enough non-Title IV grant aid to fully cover the cost of attendance, while also expanding Pell access to students in short-term workforce training programs. To avoid future funding gaps, the law includes $12.67 billion in Pell program funding. The full impact of these changes on students and institutions will become clearer as the legislation is further analyzed and implementation guidance is released.
   
• According to a court filing, between March 11 and June 27, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) dismissed more than 3,400 complaints. During that period, OCR received 4,833 complaints and 309 complaints were investigated, while 290 were resolved through agreements or assistance. The agency maintains that “OCR is vigorously upholding its responsibilities to protect all Americans’ civil rights,” while former officials and advocates have expressed concern that the high dismissal rate reflects the Trump Administration’s narrowing interpretation of civil rights laws and deep staffing cuts, including the closure of seven regional offices.
   
• On July 7, the parties in a lawsuit brought against Barnard College alleging that the college failed to address campus antisemitism announced that the lawsuit had settled. Under the settlement, Barnard agreed among other things to ban the wearing of masks at campus protests, create a new Title VI coordinator position to respond to discrimination complaints, “consider” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism and its accompanying examples “to the extent that” any such “examples might be useful as evidence of discriminatory intent,” and refuse to “recognize, meet, or negotiate with” Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a pro-Palestine group, and any future spin-off organizations.
   
• California education officials have declined to sign a proposed resolution from the Trump Administration that would have required the state to bar transgender students from participating on girls’ school sports teams. The proposal, sent by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, followed investigations claiming that California’s policies violated Title IX. The state’s Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation both rejected the findings and declined to adopt the administration’s demands, which included redefining sex based on biology and removing the records and titles of transgender student-athletes. On July 9, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in California against the state’s Department of Education.
   
• At a July 8 press conference, President Trump remarked that he would consider a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. The comments came soon after Trump voiced his support for advancing a proposal to construct a new football stadium in the District, saying he might intervene on behalf of the Washington Commanders if the D.C. Council fails to act on a pending proposal. Trump has made similar remarks in the past, citing crime and other management issues.
   
• The latest on federal actions related to Harvard University: On July 9, the Trump Administration notified Harvard’s accreditor that Harvard was deliberately indifferent to acts of antisemitism against Jewish and Israeli students, writing: “The Department of Education expects the New England Commission of Higher Education to enforce its policies and practices, and to keep the Department fully informed of its efforts to ensure that Harvard is in compliance with federal law and accreditor standards.” On the same day, the Department of Homeland Security issued Harvard a subpoena, demanding documents from January 1, 2020 to the present related to alleged misconduct by international students and the school’s compliance with federal immigration law. Harvard responded by saying that “Harvard is committed to following the law, and while the government’s subpoenas are unwarranted, the University will continue to cooperate with lawful requests and obligations.”

Resources and Reminders

About this Newsletter

To ensure that students, faculty and staff feel supported and informed about how federal developments affect higher education and GW, the university launched a weekly Federal Update. This newsletter shares timely information, addresses questions and provides resources.