Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues,

Congress is working to quickly advance a narrowly focused “reconciliation 2.0” bill that will not address higher education. The Senate passed a budget resolution this week that commences the process for providing $70 billion to fully reopen the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

The Trump Administration’s ability to provide emergency funding to keep DHS operations running will be exhausted at the end of May, so Congress must take action to provide funding or key agencies like TSA and the Coast Guard will be forced to once again curtail operations. The Republican majority is trying to keep this iteration of reconciliation very narrow, with no other policy areas under consideration.

In news from the Department of Education, we learned this week that Graduate PLUS loans will now count toward the new $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit for some borrowers. This decision reverses the Department’s earlier interpretation of the statue at a time when institutions are considering their financial aid packages and just weeks before the new rules established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act go into effect on July 1.

NAICU is opposed to this reinterpretation and is advocating for the Department to revert back to the original interpretation of the language. (See our story for more details.)

Institutions should review their students’ federal borrowing histories to determine whether this change will lead to unexpected borrowing constraints.

Finally, Inside Higher Ed reported on NAICU’s recent national survey on American’s perceptions of higher education. Among the key findings:

62% of Americans feel positive or very positive about higher education

There is significant bipartisan support for federal student aid with 85% of Democrats, 75% of Republicans, and 74% of Independents supporting federal student aid

Nearly 75% participated in at least one activity at a local college or university

You can review our press release and fact sheet for more details on the survey’s findings. These are important results as we prepare for our advocacy during the upcoming budget and appropriations negotiations. 

I hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Regards,

Barbara

Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
President, NAICU