All4Ed and Education Advocacy Organizations Urge Department of Education to Withdraw Proposed Grant Regulations
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Contact: Enrique A. Chaurand
Email: echaurand@all4ed.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — All4Ed and a coalition of education advocacy organizations and civil rights organizations are calling on the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw proposed changes to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, commonly known as EDGAR. In comments submitted, All4Ed and the organizations are warning that the proposed regulations would create greater uncertainty in the federal grantmaking process, reduce transparency, and give the Secretary of Education broader discretion over federal education funding.
The proposed regulations, published by the Department on August 24, would make a number of changes to how the Department announces, awards, continues, and terminates federal education grants. The public comment period closed on September 23.
All4Ed also submitted separate comments warning that the proposal could weaken education-to-career pathways by creating uncertainty around multi-year grants and making it harder for small organizations and rural districts to compete for federal funding.
Concerns about expanding the executive branch’s discretion over federal grants have already prompted congressional action. Earlier this month, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, successfully secured language in a continuing resolution that prevents the Office of Management and Budget from finalizing or implementing its proposed government-wide grantmaking rule through at least December 11, 2026. The move reflected bipartisan concerns about changes that could reduce transparency and increase uncertainty in the administration of federal funding. All4Ed and other advocacy groups argue that the Department of Education’s proposed EDGAR revisions raise many of the same questions about accountability, predictability, and oversight.
Among the primary concerns is a proposal that would allow the Secretary to terminate a discretionary grant “for convenience,” including when a grantee is meeting the requirements of its award.
“Just as Congress intervened to delay the implementation of the OMB regulation, Congress must ensure this EDGAR proposal never sees the light of day,” said Dr. Amy Loyd, President and CEO of All4Ed. “Senator Collins was right to push back when OMB tried to let political appointees override merit-based grant decisions. The Department of Education is now proposing many of the same changes on its own. The nation’s students need Chair Collins and Congress to intervene.”
In addition, the Department proposes requiring state departments of education and school districts that receive formula funding, including Title I, to comply with executive orders. The letter points out that “several of this administration’s education-related executive orders have already been challenged in court, with courts blocking or restricting implementation of several orders while other challenges remain in litigation.” Given that unsettled legal record, the organizations oppose this compliance requirement.
The letter also raises concerns about the proposal’s approach to equity and educational opportunity, arguing that equitable access to education is embedded in federal education law and should remain a central consideration in the administration of federal education funding. The Department’s proposal removes references to “underserved populations” and “civil rights organizations,” while providing no justification or rationale for doing so.
The proposed rule would also change grant application and selection requirements, including provisions related evidence, grant priorities, and the publication of federal grant opportunities.
“Transparency and consistency matter,” Loyd said. “Students, educators, communities, and the organizations working alongside them deserve a federal grantmaking process where the rules are clear; the criteria are transparent, and decisions are grounded in the purposes established by Congress. Changes that make funding less predictable or reduce transparency can have real consequences for students and communities.”
The organizations also question the proposal in light of the Department’s reduced staffing and operational capacity. Expanding discretionary authority over federal grants while reducing the Department’s capacity to administer those programs could create additional uncertainty for grantees.
All4Ed and the organizations joining its effort are urging the Department to withdraw the proposed changes and maintain a federal grantmaking system that provides stability, transparency, accountability, and equitable opportunity for students and communities.
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About All4Ed
All4Ed is a national education organization working to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive in learning, work, and life. For 25 years, All4Ed has worked from the classroom to Congress to advance policies and practices that expand opportunity and improve outcomes for students, particularly those furthest from opportunity. Today, All4Ed is focused on transforming education-to-career systems so that every young person has a pathway to thriving.
