JNCL-NCLIS Joins National Coalition Efforts to Protect Federal Education Programs and Research

Advocacy takes many forms. While congressional meetings, grassroots outreach, and public awareness campaigns remain essential, another important way JNCL-NCLIS advances its mission is by joining with national coalition partners to formally oppose federal actions that threaten education, language learning, and international education. By signing onto coalition letters and formal filings, we ensure that the language education community is represented alongside hundreds of organizations advocating for sound federal policy.

This month, JNCL-NCLIS has joined collaborative advocacy efforts on two significant federal policy issues:

Less Bureaucracy, Better Education Legislation

On July 15, the House Education & Workforce Committee marked up a package of ten bills that would permanently transfer federal education programs, including all key language education programs, to other federal agencies. The so-called "Less Bureaucracy, Better Education" legislation would also effectively remove the Secretary of Education from all laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; transfer Department of Education staff to other agencies; and essentially make permanent the reductions in force that eliminated half of the Department of Education's staff.

Virtually all federal programs are covered by these bills, with the exception of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's transfer to HHS. If enacted, these bills would amount to a de facto dismantling of the Department of Education and the elimination of any significant role for the Secretary of Education. Beyond the structural changes, K–12 schools and higher education institutions would be forced to work with multiple federal agencies—rather than a single Department of Education—to receive guidance on funding, policies, and compliance.

Beyond the proposed restructuring, these measures raise broader concerns about the future administration of congressionally authorized education programs. Programs established by Congress are designed to serve specific purposes and populations. As responsibility for administering those programs is transferred among agencies and executive authority over implementation expands, there is greater potential for future administrations to substantially alter how programs are interpreted, prioritized, or administered. Such changes could significantly affect the delivery of programs and services intended to benefit students, educators, institutions, and communities across the country.

JNCL-NCLIS has signed onto a national coalition statement opposing this suite of bills and urging Congress to reject them. Read the statement here.

Universal Guidance Rulemaking

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has initiated a rulemaking that would significantly alter the review and administration of all federal competitive grants.

Among other changes, the proposed rules would require federal agencies to designate political appointees to review potential awardees to ensure grants align with Administration policies and priorities, including those related to DEI and gender identity. The proposal would also substantially weaken peer review panels, limit certain recruitment expenditures, potentially restrict conference participation unless specifically approved by awarding agencies, and allow agencies to terminate previously awarded discretionary grants if they are deemed not to align with Administration priorities.

These changes could have far-reaching implications for education, language programs, international education, and research communities that depend on fair, transparent, and expert-driven competitive grant processes.

JNCL-NCLIS has joined a coalition filing objecting to these proposed rules and advocating for the preservation of a transparent, merit-based federal grants process. Read submitted comments here.

Advocacy Happens in Many Ways

Coalition advocacy is an important part of JNCL-NCLIS's ongoing work to protect language education and international education at the federal level. By adding our voice to these national efforts, we help ensure that policymakers hear from the broad community of educators, researchers, schools, universities, and organizations affected by these proposals.

We will continue to monitor both issues closely and keep our advocates informed of opportunities to take action as these proposals move forward.