Federal Advocacy

It is more important than ever for California community college stakeholders to be engaged in advocacy efforts at the federal level to ensure our colleges can continue to offer quality public education to California students.

The League has identified several critical federal advocacy issues and developed supplemental documents to assist you in advocating for California’s community colleges.

2025 Federal Advocacy Talking Points 2025 Federal Update Presentation

Federal Resources

With the shifting federal landscape, it is more important than ever for California community college stakeholders to stay engaged in federal advocacy efforts to ensure our colleges can continue providing quality public education.

To support this work the League has compiled supplemental resources to help keep our community colleges informed and prepared.

Budget Reconciliation Bill

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, completing the latest round of federal budget reconciliation. The bill includes major higher education provisions:

Federal Pell Grants

The reconciliation package makes the following updates to Pell Grants:

increases overall Pell Grant funding by $10.5 billion
no Pell Grants for students receiving full-ride scholarships
excludes farm and small-business assets from financial aid eligibility calculations

Workforce Pell Grant eligibility is expanded to include short-term career-focused programs that:

are 150 to 599 clock hours in length
last 8 to 14 weeks
available at for-profit, nonprofit, and public institutions

Proposals not included in bill:

Limit Pell eligibility for students enrolled less than half-time
Increase full-time Pell eligibility to 30 semester hours/year

Student Loan Repayment & Accountability

Loan prohibition for programs where most graduates earn less than the median high school graduate in their state
Programs become ineligible if they fail this standard 2 out of 3 years, though an appeals process is available

Not included: The previously proposed House “risk sharing” provision, which would have required institutions to repay a portion of defaulted student loans

Resources:
ACCT’s H.R.1 Reconciliation Law Fact Sheet

TICAS’ Summary of Provisions Affecting Higher Education in the Reconciliation Bill

Timeline for the Budget Reconciliation Act (prepared for the League by Downs Government Affairs, LLC)

Executive Orders

FAQ’s and Explainers on Executive Actions

Executive Actions

Immigration Policy Tracking Project (Stanford and Yale Law school students)
NAFSA- Executive and Regulatory Actions Under the Second Trump Administration related to international students and scholars
Sheppard Mullin- Trump Administration Executive Actions Tracker

Undocumented Students

On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) issued a notice of Interpretation in the Federal Register declaring that certain federally funded postsecondary programs now qualify as “federal public benefits” under Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). This reinterpretation reverses a 1997 DOE position and may restrict access to these programs for undocumented students and other non-citizens who have historically participated.

The affected programs include:

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs under Perkins V
Dual enrollment programs for secondary students
Adult education programs under Title II of AEFLA (WIOA)

While DOE is not immediately requiring proof of PRWORA compliance, it has warned that future enforcement may follow. The new interpretation is not legally binding yet, but it introduces significant uncertainty and may face legal challenges.

At this time, no immediate action is required, but colleges are encouraged to monitor this issue closely with their leadership teams and legal counsel.

Supporting Resources:

Executive Order: Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders (Feb. 2025)
DOE Notice of Interpretation (July 2025)

Immigration Preparedness Guides:

Immigrants Rising: Immigration Preparedness in CA Higher Education Institutions

Webinars

Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) is offering a series of webinars focused on supporting our undocumented populations. Register for their webinars here.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) offered a recent webinar on the recent DACA Decision from the 5^th Watch the webinar here.

Data Protection and FERPA

Legal Protections for Student Data:

Recission of Protected Areas

Understanding the Policy Changes:

- National Immigration Law Center – Fact Sheet: Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All

Warrants & Subpoenas

What to Look Out for and How to Respond

- NIL Resource Guide on Warrants and Subpoenas

Refugee Students and Employees

Expedited Removal

IRLC- Toolkit to Assist People Facing Expanded Expedited Removal

Student Resources

Access to Free Legal Services:

- Find Your Ally: Schedule an Appointment

Rapid Response Networks (provide immediate support and advocacy for immigrant communities facing enforcement actions such as deportation, detention, or workplace raids)