Policy Watch

Given rapid developments in the legislative, policy, and regulatory environments, AACN is providing weekly updates on key actions taken by Congress and the Administration. To quickly find relevant updates, use the dropdown menus to search by topic or date.

News by Topic

Supreme Court allows mass layoffs at the Department of Education as President Trump seeks to close the agency.
AACN joined with the American Council on Education and other national associations in filing an amicus brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to subvert higher education to the federal government’s political leadership.
On May 30, AACN signed on to a letter with other higher education associations urging the State Department to make any pause on student visa processing as short as possible, cut wait times, and streamline the process for student visa applicants.
On May 14, AACN joined with a broad coalition of higher education organizations in a statement calling upon the Trump Administration to protect and renew the longstanding partnership between the federal government and colleges and universities.
The Department of Education expands accreditation options for colleges and universities.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Announce Title IX Special Investigations Team.
U.S. Department of Education Opens Revised Income-Driven Repayment Plan and Loan Consolidation Applications for Borrowers.
AACN signed on to a response to a Request for Information for the Trump Administration's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan relating to the use of AI across the higher education landscape.
U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened investigations into 45 universities following the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter that reiterated schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.
U.S. Department of Education Issues More Details About DEI Guidance, including a New FAQs.
Linda McMahon was confirmed as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

NIH director is replacing his top outside advisory board.
On June 25, AACN signed onto a coalition letter with leading healthcare associations urging Senate leadership to reject proposed cuts to Medicaid in the Committee’s budget reconciliation bill given the impact on women’s and child healthcare.
More than 460 laid-off CDC employees are being reinstated.
Last week, a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the National Institutes of Health to restore hundreds of research grants terminated earlier this year.
Becker's Hospital Review released an overview of NIH grant funding losses by state and the toll of NIH funding cuts: 6 key takeaways.
NINR announces Scientific Symposium to celebrate 40 years of solutions-oriented nursing research.
On June 5, AACN joined with a broad coalition of organizations in a letter urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to reject the $18 billion in cuts to the National Institutes of Health proposed in the President's budget and work with the Administration on a different path forward.
On June 10, AACN signed on to a letter along with other national nursing organizations expressing strong concerns over HHS Secretary Kennedy’s decision to dismiss all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) released a report identifying key drivers behind the childhood chronic disease crisis.
On May 22, the House of Representatives passed the President's domestic policy bill, sending it on to the Senate.
On May 14, AACN signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) urging them to support at least $420.85 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Environmental Health in the FY 2026 LHHS-ED Appropriations bill.
On May 13, AACN signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies urging them to reject the elimination of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was outlined in the Administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal.
On May 6, AACN published a response to the President's Nurses Day message urging the Administration to protect funding for nursing education and workforce programs.
The National Science Foundation announced the implementation of a standard 15% indirect cost rate.
On April 29, AACN signed onto letters from American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners to the House and Senate supporting funding for the Indian Health Professions Account and Indian Health Service.
AACN released a statement of concern regarding the President's proposed budget for FY 2026 that includes across the board cuts to federal agencies, including HHS, NIH, HRSA, and the Department of Education.
Colleges with DEI Programs or Israel Boycotts will no longer be eligible for NIH grants.
On April 25, AACN signed on to a coalition letter urging Congress to reject the proposed HHS budget cuts and ensure that essential programs are adequately funded.
On April 22, AACN joined with other higher education leaders calling for constructive engagement to better serve the American people while rejecting undue government intrusion and the coercive use of public research funding.
From Insider Higher Ed: How Researchers Could Get Their Canceled NIH Grants Back
A federal judge issued an order temporarily blocking the 15% cap on research funding from NIH.
AACN Signs on to Legal Challenge to New NIH Funding Guidance
AACN Statement on New NIH Guidance Limiting Indirect Costs for Research Grants

U.S. Department of Education offers revised federal student loan repayment options.
On June 27, AACN signed onto an American Council on Education letter to Senate leadership expressing concerns about cuts to federal student aid and new taxes on higher education institutions proposed in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bills.
On June 17, AACN led a healthcare community sign on letter advocating for higher education provisions in the Senate budget reconciliation process. This includes preserving subsidized loans for undergraduates, retaining the Grad PLUS Program, increasing the proposed aggregate limit for unsubsidized federal loans, and preserving other federal loan programs.
Last week, Senator Alex Padilla (CA) and Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) introduced bicameral legislation to help students afford advanced education by restoring graduate students’ eligibility for receiving subsidized federal loans.
U.S. Department of Education announced actions and proactive steps to ensure American taxpayer dollars spent on federal student aid programs are used responsibly.
The Department of Education released a statement reminding colleges and universities of their obligations to help struggling borrowers.
Department of Education to resume federal student loan collections, starting May 5.
The 2025 Nurse Corps Scholarship application cycle closes on Thursday, April 24, 7:30 pm (ET).
The Small Business Administration, the agency newly responsible for overseeing student loans, announced a 43% reduction in force.
HHS has published a list of grants terminated since January 2025, including information of recipient institutions, projects funded, and award totals.
An Executive Order creates new eligibility limitations for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators published an implementation timeline for higher education provisions of the reconciliation bill signed into law July 4.
On June 23, AACN signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition letter thanking Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) for introducing the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R.3170), and supporting its passage this Congress.
On June 9, AACN signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter thanking Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2531/S.1232).
AACN is working with congressional offices to share information and communicate the value of NINR and nursing science. AACN was proud to see Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), highlight the importance of NINR at the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing with the NIH Director (see comments beginning at 1:06:20).
On May 28, AACN signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter thanking the leaders of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses for introducing a bipartisan and bicameral resolution honoring National Nurses Week.
On May 15, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a nationwide preliminary injunction halting the Department of Energy from "implementing, instituting, maintaining, or giving effect to the Rate Cap Policy in any form with respect to the IHEs (institutions of higher education)."
Members of both Congressional Nursing Caucuses led a Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution celebrating National Nurses Week.
On April 17, AACN joined with other nursing associations in urging Congress to support Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs.
Congress passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, funding the government through the end of FY2025 and avoiding a government shutdown.
House Republicans released a proposed continuing resolution to fund the government through September 30.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a new report detailing impact of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” on health care in America.
On May 12, the President issued an Executive Order mandating that drug manufacturers begin offering American consumers the most-favored-nation lowest price on pharmaceuticals.
Secretary Kennedy published an editorial defending the large-scale reduction in force at HHS.
Senate confirms Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
President Trump to nominate Dr. Susan Monarez to be CDC Director.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in as the US Secretary of Labor.

HHS abruptly cancels preventive services task force meeting.
AACN has heard from some members that funding for both the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program and the Nursing Faculty Loan Program has been cancelled. If you have received a notice of cancellation, please share your experience with us.The HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program application is open through July 3.
AACN needs you to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593). This legislation would help ensure that pathways into nursing remain strong, and patients maintain access to high-quality nursing care.
On May 27, AACN joined with a coalition of nursing associations in response to an FTC request for comment on reducing anti-competitive regulatory barriers. The comment letter highlights regulatory barriers that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training and suggests approaches to removing barriers.
Applications are open through June 17 to become a National Health Service Corps (NHSC)-approved site.
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program is accepting applications through April 17. The program provides funds to Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses working in an eligible public or private critical shortage facility, or nurse faculty at an eligible school of nursing.
The 2025 Nurse Corps Scholarship application cycle is now open through April 24.