October 2025 Education Briefs
- Khanh Do
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
1. Mass Layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education Raise Program Risks
Recent reporting shows the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has told over 250 staff in its Office for Civil Rights they will be laid off, continuing a staffing cut that began during the federal shutdown. The firings come as the agency faces its most severe workforce reduction in decades, raising concerns about its ability to oversee civil rights enforcement, manage grants, and support vulnerable student populations.
2. White House Invites Top Universities Into “Compact for Academic Excellence”
On October 1 2025, the White House sent a memorandum inviting nine leading universities, including Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Pennsylvania, and University of Virginia, to join a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Schools that sign on could receive preferential access to federal funding in exchange for commitments to certain operational principles. The proposal has drawn controversy over implications for institutional autonomy and academic freedom.
3. Final Rule Restores Focus of Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
On October 30 2025, the U.S. Department of Education released a final rule revising the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to exclude organizations that engage in illegal activities from counting as qualifying employers. The change tightens the definition of “public service” for loan forgiveness eligibility. The rule takes effect July 1 2026 and underscores the importance of understanding employer eligibility for borrowers planning careers in public service.
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