A Funding Deal, the Pell Shortfall, and New Federal Pressure on Campuses

The hosts run a rapid-fire policy lightning round on the biggest higher ed issues right now, from federal funding and a looming Pell shortfall to new graduate loan limits. They also dig into two fast-moving flashpoints: the Education Department's scrutiny of a long-running student voting study and the administration's escalating actions aimed at Harvard, including potential impacts on service members' education benefits. Plus, an update on Sarah's favorite topic, Section 117 foreign gift reporting.

Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:

Appropriations

How Congress's Budget Could Hamper Trump ED Agenda Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 12, 2026

Tufts/NSLVE

National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement

U.S. Department of Education Takes Actions to Protect Integrity of U.S. Elections Department of Education | Feb. 5. 2026

Education Dept. Tells Universities Not to Use Student Voting Data Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 5, 2026

dotEDU: Debates, Flies, and Political Engagement at the University of Utah

New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting Brennan Center for Justice | Feb. 9, 2026

Harvard v. Trump

dotEDU: What the Headlines Miss About Higher Ed: A Conversation with Kirk Carapezza

Justice Department Sues Harvard for Admissions Records The New York Times | Feb. 13, 2026

Department of Defense Severs Academic Ties With Harvard Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 10, 2026

Grad Loan Limits

Reimagining and Improving Student Education Federal Register | Jan. 30, 2026

Summary: ​The U.S. Department of Education's Proposal on OBBB RISE Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ACE

**Contact Congress to Urge a Broader Professional Degree Definition**

Accreditation

U.S. Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking to Reform and Strengthen America's Higher Education Accreditation System Department of Education | Jan. 26, 2026

U.S. Department of Education Issues Proposed Interpretive Rule to Eliminate the Use of "Regional" by Accrediting Agencies Department of Education | Feb. 13, 2026

Section 117

Section 117 Foreign Gift and Contract Public Transparency Dashboard Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Releases Latest Foreign Funding Disclosures from Federally-Funded American Universities Department of Education | Feb. 11, 2026