On April 24, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sent out a Dear Colleague Letter, following a recent executive order, Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.  

The letter outlines the agencies’ movement against harm reduction, expanding their list of prohibited harm reduction services and clarifying which services will remain supported by HHS funding. The letter also provided guidance to state agency leadership and grantees regarding the supplies and services previously defined under the umbrella of harm reduction that could be supported with SAMHSA funding.  

A second letter, also published on April 24, shares core clinical tenets, including ensuring medications prescribed to treat substance use disorders are accompanied by needed supportive services, including legal, housing, and family functioning. The letter also provides new language to be included in updated terms and conditions for current grantees and in new FY2026 funding announcements for all relevant treatment services, training, and technical assistance.  

The letter aims to ensure the clinically appropriate use of medications in the treatment of opioid use disorder. The guidance is also intended to confirm that SAMHSA funding, training, and technical assistance are advancing care models that address the complex psychosocial needs of individuals with opioid use disorder, rather than medication-only models. 

Department of Education Issues Rule to Implement Key Changes to Student Loan Borrowing and Repayment  

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a rule to guide the implementation of student loan borrowing and repayment provisions enacted by the recent tax reconciliation bill, H.R. 1. 

The rule encompasses three key provisions,  

Establishes annual and total loan limits for graduate and professional students 

Revises forbearance and deferment eligibility 

Introduces two new repayment plans, the Tiered Standard plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan, available to new and current borrowers beginning on July 1, 2026 

The Department of Education outlined additional provisions through the following fact sheet.  

House Ways and Means Committee Advances Foster Care Modernization Legislation 

The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved six bipartisan bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. The Chafee program provides funding to support young adults in or formerly in foster care in their transition to adulthood through formula grants awarded to child welfare agencies in states and participating tribes.

Collectively, the reforms aim to improve state utilization of Chafee funds, strengthen coordination between child welfare agencies and federal housing programs, expand access to educational support and workforce training opportunities, improve support for foster youth who are parents or soon-to-be parents, expand access to legal services, and prioritize support networks and permanency for foster youth.  

The House Committee on Ways and Means shared summaries and fact sheets of each bill in the following press release.  

House Advances Farm Bill 

On April 30, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567, the 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill. Representatives voted 224 to 200 to pass the measure, with 209 Republicans, 14 Democrats, and one independent voting in favor. Three Republicans and 197 Democrats opposed the measure.

Often referred to as the Farm Bill, the legislation reauthorizes agricultural and food programs for the next five years. It aims to invest in agriculture research, ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices, protect access to nutrition programs for low-income Americans, and strengthen national security and border protections. However, Democratic representatives have expressed strong concerns about the bill’s potential to increase costs for farmers and rural communities and endanger access to essential nutrition assistance programs.

Legislation Enacted to Fund DHS, Ending 76 Day Shutdown 

On April 30, President Trump signed H.R. 7147, Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, into law, ending the Department of Homeland Security’s historic shutdown. 

The bill funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and other critical agencies. It does not include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection. However, the agencies have retained significant funding following appropriations through the recent tax reconciliation bill, H.R. 1. Congress is also expected to appropriate $70 billion in additional funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection through future legislation. 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary

Federal Court Upholds Medicaid Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Affirming Care to Minors

The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon denied federal efforts to withhold federal funding for hospitals that provide gender affirming care to minors, determining the action exceeded the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

A coalition of states filed a lawsuit shortly after the Secretary’s declaration, which claimed that “[s]ex-rejecting procedures for children and adolescents are neither safe nor effective.” The states argued that the declaration violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s mandatory notice-and-comment rulemaking requirement and illegally superseded state authority over medical standards of care.

Supreme Court Decision Endangers the Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court significantly narrowed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark civil rights-era law, by a 6-3 majority.

The decision follows the redrawing of a Congressional map within Louisiana after federal courts found a 2022 map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. However, the Supreme Court majority determined that evidence of racial disparity in the drawing of earlier maps was too weak to justify the use of race to draw the new map. The justices determined that racial discrimination in previous maps does not have to be proven outright to justify using race to draw a new map.

For decades, Section 2 has broadly outlawed discrimination in voting on the basis of race and has been interpreted to allow, and sometimes demand, the use of race-conscious data in redistricting to protect the voting power of minorities. However, following the verdict, state maps may only be challenged where it can be shown that there was intentional racial discrimination, an incredibly challenging standard to prove.

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On April 13, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a Dear Colleague letter with sample program language and program requirements for well-supported home visiting models. States and Tribes may incorporate these services into existing Title IV-E five-year prevention plans through the established plan amendment process.  

Integrating pre-reviewed language and requirements will accelerate approval for Title IV-E prevention purposes, streamlining review and facilitating more timely deployment. While not required, States and Tribes may also add information about state and tribal-specific implementation plans to add new home visiting services. 

ACF Announces 15 Jurisdictions Have Joined a Home for Every Child 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently announced that 14 states and the District of Columbia have joined A Home for Every Child, a bipartisan initiative to increase the number of licensed foster homes relative to the number of children in care. The states include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Rhode Island. 

The Home for Every Child Initiative aims to: 

Nationwide, there are 57 licensed foster homes for every 100 children in care, a gap the initiative aims to close. Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams stressed the importance of the metric for states to meaningfully pursue improving this ratio while tracking permanency outcomes, kinship placement rates, and prevention services. 

To advance a Home for Every Child and support collaboration with states, tribes, and grantees, ACF has announced key staff appointments. 

House Ways and Means Committee Hosts Roundtable to Discuss Bipartisan Foster Care Reform 

The United States House Committee on Ways & Means held a roundtable discussion with First Lady Melania Trump and foster youth to discuss modernizing the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. 

The discussion follows the introduction of six bipartisan bills to support current and former foster youth as they exit foster care and transition to adulthood and independence. As a whole, the legislation aims to improve state utilization of Chafee funds, strengthen coordination between child welfare and federal housing programs, expand access to education and workforce training opportunities, improve support for foster youth who are parents or soon-to-be parents, expand access to legal services, and modernize the purposes of the Chafee program.  

The Ways & Means Committee has published a brief summarizing the bills. 

HRSA Announces Critical Grant Funding to Expand Nutrition Services and Strengthen Rural Health Workforce 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced more than $135 million in grant funding to expand nutrition services and strengthen the rural workforce, improve access to care, enhance preventive services, and reduce the burden of chronic disease. HRSA-funded health centers serve more than 32.4 million patients at over 16,000 sites nationwide, including one in five rural residents. 

Expanded Nutrition Services will receive $125 million to support more than 350 HRSA-funded health centers in expanding access to nutrition services and food-based interventions within primary care settings to prevent and manage chronic diseases. 

The Rural Residency Planning and Development Program will receive $11.25 million through as many as 15 grants of up to $750,000 each over three years. The funding will support new rural residency programs in high-need specialties, including psychiatry, family medicine, internal medicine, OB-GYN, general surgery, and preventive medicine.   

CMS Issues Guidance to Implement New Limits on Federal Medicaid and CHIP Funding Following H.R. 1 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued letters to states, offering guidance as a key provision of the recent tax and reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, will take effect Oct. 1. The provision will limit states’ ability to claim federal matching funds for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for certain populations of immigrants. The guidance exempts green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of certain Pacific island nations. 

The guidance is expected to impact health care access for immigrants, especially as states will no longer receive full federal matching funds for the Medicaid or CHIP benefits of refugees, asylees, parolees, and victims of trafficking following H.R. 1. However, federal matching funds remain available for emergency Medicaid. States will also not be required to provide state-only coverage where federal funding is unavailable.  

The guidance outlines the required state actions to implement these changes, including eligibility redeterminations for current enrollees, updates to eligibility and verification systems, managed care and financial claiming procedures, and the submission of Medicaid and CHIP state plan amendments.  

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Federal Courts Determine Changes to Continuum of Care Grants Are Illegal 

The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island determined that the sudden funding conditions attached to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program were illegally implemented. 

The CoC program is the largest resource for federal homelessness assistance funds. Research conducted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) estimates that the imposed limits to permanent housing would lead more than 170,000 individuals to experience homelessness. Additionally, surveys among grant recipients conducted by the NAEH detailed potential delays in program referrals, increased uncertainty for program participants, and exacerbated staffing challenges. 

U.S District Judge Mary McElroy similarly detailed the harm that the amended grant conditions would have and found that the notice announcing the funding opportunities, the new criteria used by HUD when deciding to issue grants, and the one-week application period for the grants were all unlawful. The court also ordered that the funding already approved by Congress must still be awarded.  

In addition to the lawsuit filed by a coalition of nonprofits and local governments, several states filed lawsuits challenging the sudden and extensive changes to the CoC program. The First Circuit Court of Appeals also prevented the Trump administration from imposing restrictions on homelessness funding. The First Circuit’s decision keeps an existing injunction in place, allowing billions of dollars in funding to continue to housing-first solutions while the lawsuit continues.

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Social Current recently submitted comments to the General Services Administration opposing a proposal that would require all applicants to agree to three new certifications when registering in the System for Award Management and during each annual renewal. The certifications aim to prohibit grantees from supporting illegal immigration, engaging in illegal activities that threaten public safety or national security, and violating federal antidiscrimination laws.

However, the proposed certifications include vague and complex language that could create significant compliance challenges. Without clear definitions or implementation guidance, the requirements could put human services organizations at risk and lack sufficient safeguards to ensure applicants can reasonably meet the terms.

The proposed changes would broadly affect federal grantees, as nonprofits and state and local governments rely on the System for Award Management to apply for and manage federal funding. The General Services Administration is expected to submit the proposal to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

Executive Order Introduces Notable Changes for Elections

On March 31, President Trump signed an executive order, Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections. 

The order introduces key requirements: 

However, the executive order’s implementation remains uncertain. A coalition of 23 attorneys general has since filed a lawsuit, arguing that the order violates the Constitution, which grants states the authority to oversee elections. 

Trump Administration Releases FY27 Budget Proposal 

The Trump Administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. While the proposal is nonbinding, it offers a glimpse of the executive branch’s priorities and serves as a guide to Congress. 

The proposal recommended drastic increases to military funding alongside a 10% reduction in non-defense discretionary spending. The greatest funding reductions were made to the Small Business Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Key recommendations include: 

For further information regarding the administration’s priorities, the White House published a fact sheet. 

Congress Announces Plan to Fund DHS, Ending the Historic Shutdown, If Passed 

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lapsed Feb. 14 and has yet to be restored, threatening the department’s essential functions, including disaster relief. The leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate published a statement on April 1, announcing a pathway to end the partial government shutdown. 

The proposal suggests funding most of DHS, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Funding to the agencies would be restored and approved for the three years through a future reconciliation bill, which the president has stated would need to be passed by June 1. 

Although both chambers of Congress have recessed, the Senate unanimously passed a similar bill, H.R. 7147, March 27.  House leadership is expected to return next week to vote on the bill, but Republicans have expressed key concerns regarding its approach. 

ACF Continues Deregulatory Efforts Using a Zero-Based Regulation Approach 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently announced the rescission of a grant program no longer in effect, State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants (SLIAG). SLIAG operated from 1987 to 1994 to help states cover costs associated with legalization under federal immigration law, including education, public health, and law enforcement. Although the program has been inactive for decades, it has remained in federal regulations. ACF will remove the regulation, effective May 26, unless the agency receives significant negative comments, which may be submitted through the Federal Register.  

Additionally, the agency also issued two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking to remove duplicative regulations involving Native American programs and services for repatriated nationals with mental illness. Both comment periods end April 27. 

The Administration for Children and Families rulemaking actions follow a comprehensive review using a Zero-Based Regulation approach, which evaluates whether existing rules are still necessary. ACF program offices assess regulations for relevance, duplication, and burden, identifying those that are obsolete or no longer serve their intended purpose. For further information, Alex Adams, the Assistant Secretary of ACF, authored a brief through the Manhattan Institute. 

ACF Announces the Addition of New Evidence-Based Interventions to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the addition of new evidence-based interventions to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) conducted rigorous reviews of each evidence-based intervention to ensure that only programs with demonstrated effectiveness are eligible for federal reimbursement under Title IV-E prevention services funding. 

The approved programs and services include: 

In the press release, the Assistant Secretary of ACF, Alex J. Adams, stressed the importance of prevention within the agency’s initiative,  A Home for Every Child. The Home for Every Child initiative aims to safely lower the number of children entering foster care through effective prevention, while also increasing the number of foster homes through diligent recruitment, prioritizing kin, and improving retention of existing caregivers. 

Department of Education Announces Next Steps for Borrowers Enrolled in the SAVE Plan 

On March 27, the U.S. Department of Education began issuing guidance to all borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, directing them to exit the plan and enter a legal federal student loan repayment plan. 

The guidance follows a court decision approving a joint settlement between the Department of Education and the State of Missouri. The settlement ordered the Department of Education not to enroll any new borrowers in the SAVE Plan, deny any pending applications, and move all SAVE Plan borrowers into legal repayment plans.  

The SAVE Plan was first implemented in February 2024 through a provision of regulations that provided loan forgiveness for borrowers who had been in repayment for 10 years and borrowed $12,000 or less in student loans. The plan would have granted nearly $1.2 billion in loan forgiveness for almost 153,000 borrowers.  

Departments of Education and Treasury Announce Partnership to Guide Student Loan Borrowers in Default 

On March 19, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the Federal Student Assistance Partnership to enhance the administration of Federal student aid programs and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment. 

The Department of the Treasury will assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to the Department of Education’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. In subsequent phases, Treasury will work to provide operational support for non-defaulted Federal student loan debt, while also seeking opportunities to support the Office of Federal Student Aid’s other functions. 

The decision arrives as the Department of Education reports that fewer than 40 percent of borrowers are in repayment and nearly 25 percent are in default. 

For further information, the Departments issued a fact sheet. 

House Appropriations Committee Discusses Leveraging Federal Funding for Adoption Programs   

The House Appropriations Committee recently held a hearing entitled, Advancing Permanency in Child Welfare: Leveraging Federal Funding for Adoption Programs. Members and witnesses alike highlighted the importance of adoption in providing children with safe, stable homes and supporting community well-being.   

Witnesses detailed the challenges states face in facilitating timely, safe, and stable adoptions for children in need. Recommendations to improve post-adoption outcomes included: 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary  

Federal Court Upholds the Johnson Amendment  

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas rejected a proposed consent agreement between the Internal Revenue Service, churches, and religious organizations. 

Had it been accepted, churches would have been permitted to endorse political candidates while maintaining their tax-exempt status. However, the district court dismissed the lawsuit, determining that federal law prohibits it from interfering in matters of tax assessment. 

The Johnson Amendment stands as a foundational protection for the nonprofit sector by prohibiting tax-exempt organizations from participating or intervening in political campaigns.  

The lawsuit was filed by the National Religious Broadcasters, Intercessors for America, and two churches. The plaintiffs maintained that the Johnson Amendment violates their 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion. 

Supreme Court Overturns Colorado’s Conversion Therapy Ban  

The Supreme Court, in an 8 to 1 decision, overturned a Colorado law, which bans conversion therapy for minors.

Colorado is one of 27 states with laws completely or partially banning conversion therapy for minors. The eight concurring justices cited free speech concerns, noting the Colorado law prevents therapists from saying they can help a minor change their gender identity or same-sex attraction, but permits them to say that such a goal is impossible. 

The majority disagreed with Colorado’s contention that the law does not violate the First Amendment because therapy is different from other types of speech as a form of health care that the state has a responsibility to regulate.  

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the lone dissenter, spoke to the dangers of the majority opinion. She argued that the majority’s opinion “could be ushering in an era of unprofessional and unsafe medical care administered by effectively unsupervised healthcare providers.”  

Researchers have consistently found conversion therapy to be linked to greater symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality. Major medical and mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also advocated for the end of conversion therapy given the practice’s profound harm and violation of core ethical principles. 

The future of the laws and their enforcement will depend on a lower court’s verdict after the Supreme Court ordered the 10th Circuit to reconsider the lawsuit with greater concern for the permissibility of regulating free speech. 

Federal Court Rules Against Grant Requirements Related to DEI Initiatives 

The District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Justice, preventing the agency from forcing any grantee or contractor nationwide to certify that they do not operate programs related to diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives to receive funding. 

Additionally, Judge Matthew F. Kennelly prohibited the implementation of funding conditions that would have required organizations applying for grants through the DOJ’s Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program to agree to cooperate with immigration enforcement. 

The lawsuit was brought by Freedom Network USA, the nation’s largest alliance of organizations and individual advocates working with survivors of all forms of human trafficking.  

Federal Court Determines HHS Secretary Exceeded Authority in Declaring Gender Affirming Treatments Unsafe  

The US District Court for the District of Oregon determined that the Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to follow proper administrative procedures before issuing a declaration regarding the safety, effectiveness, and professional standards of care for gender affirming care procedures for children and adolescents. 

The verdict follows a lawsuit filed by 18 states, which claimed that the declaration exceeded Kennedy’s rule-making power and improperly threatened federal funding for clinics and health care providers that provide gender-affirming care. 

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The Senate recently passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a significant reform bill that aims to increase housing affordability and availability. The bill passed by a vote of 89 to 10 and will now be sent to the House of Representatives to either approve amendments introduced by the Senate or introduce further amendments. The bill previously passed the House through a vote of 390 to 9. 

For further information, the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs has published a detailed summary. 

The bill’s passage also arrives as the president has issued executive orders, Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit and Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction, intended to promote housing affordability and accessibility. The measures arrive as communities continue to experience remarkable challenges accessing affordable housing.  

Children’s Bureau Revises Section 8.1H of the Child Welfare Policy Manual 

The Children’s Bureau recently announced Section 8.1H, Question 21 of the Child Welfare Policy Manual (TITLE IV-E, Administrative Functions/Costs, Training) was amended to remove “cultural competence” and related language from the question and answer. 

The question asks, what are allowable title IV-E training topics related to the role of protective factors in healthy child development, such as resiliency; relational competence; child social and emotional development; trauma; and related areas?  

ASPE Publishes Report Detailing Opportunities to Improve Licensing and Reach of Kinship Care 

The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) recently published a report exploring how states are approaching kinship care by examining states’ definitions of kinship caregivers, the prevalence of children in foster care living with relatives or kin, and states’ adoption of separate licensing standards for kinship homes, and states’ participation in kinship navigator programs through the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. 

Executive Order Establishes a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud

On March 16, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud that encompassed several departments and agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and Veterans Affairs. The Task Force was designed to coordinate a national strategy to stop fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs, including by strengthening eligibility verification processes, developing controls before funds are disbursed, and auditing to ensure prospective compliance monitoring.

VA and DOJ Sign Agreement to Guide Post-Acute Transitions of Care for Certain Populations of Veterans  

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) authorizing the DOJ to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys. VA attorneys will then be empowered with the legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in cases where a legal decision-maker is required for post-acute transitions of care for Veterans in need. 

In certain cases, the appointment of a legal guardian or conservator can be a lifeline for Veterans. They can aid Veterans by preventing unwarranted continued hospitalization, advocating for their rights, and promoting appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate. 

However, guardianship and other forms of involuntary intervention are serious legal actions. The decisions significantly limit personal autonomy and, accordingly, merit extensive consideration to determine whether they are truly necessary and beneficial.   

Caution is especially important due to key challenges Veterans face in accessing community services and housing, as many concurrently continue to navigate complex health challenges. Health and human service organizations offer essential expertise to aid in policy development to grow access to essential services to support their holistic health, well-being, and recovery while prioritizing trust and transparency.  

 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

HUD Appeals Federal Court’s Decision to Temporarily Pause Proposed Changes to the Continuum of Care program 

The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), recently appealed a federal verdict that temporarily prevented the federal government from implementing changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. 

The changes were initially announced in November and would have drastically shifted eligibility requirements. The initial Notice of Funding Opportunity markedly reduced funding from permanent housing and mandated that the majority of the funds be directed to temporary transitional housing assistance with conditional work or service requirements.  

Following a lawsuit filed by a coalition of nonprofits and state and local governments, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction preventing the amended grant conditions from taking effect. 

Federal Court Blocks Key Sections of a Proposed Regulation Expected to Drastically Alter the Deportation Appeals Process 

The US District Court for the District of Columbia recently vacated the main provisions of a proposed regulation, Appellate Procedures for the Board of Immigration Appeals. 

The regulation would have introduced sweeping changes, including allowing the Executive Office of Immigration Review to determine which cases to review. All appeals would be dismissed, leading the deportation order to become final, unless a majority of permanent members of the Board of Immigration Appeals vote to consider it. Additionally, the rule would reduce the time individuals have to file their appeals from 30 days to 10 days. Appellants would have been required to comply with a waiver provision requiring them to raise all issues in the notice of appeal or risk forfeiting them. 

Judge Randolph D. Moss prevented the above requirements from taking effect, finding that the administration failed to comply with public comment requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act. However, other sections that the Judge determined wouldn’t cause immediate harm have since gone into effect. The procedural changes include simultaneous briefing schedules, limits on extensions and reply briefs, and other case-management adjustments.  

First Circuit Upholds Lower Court’s Actions to Stop the Government-Wide Funding Freeze 

The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the preliminary injunction issued by the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The decision upheld a critical precedent: the executive branch cannot unilaterally freeze funds appropriated by Congress. 

The appellate ruling followed a March 2025 decision that prevented the White House Office of Management and Budget from pausing trillions in government loans, grants, and other payments. In upholding the lower court’s verdict, the First Circuit Court of Appeals introduced essential safeguards to protect essential funding for federal programs, ranging from Medicaid to child-care programs and infrastructure projects.  

The order also arrives after the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the Trump administration from cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in public health grants to several Democratic states. However, Judge Manish S. Shah clarified that the court could not enforce payment obligations for a federal grant: lawsuits regarding contracts with the US are the domain of the Court of Federal Claims. 

Federal Court Pauses Changes to the Vaccine Schedule  

The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction, preventing changes to the national childhood vaccine schedule from becoming effective. The ruling also determined that the recent appointments to the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) did not follow federal legal procedures. 

The decision arrives as medical providers and families nationwide have faced significant uncertainty, while leading medical experts have continued to advocate against the proposed changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.  

Notably, the proposed schedule would have reduced the number of recommended vaccines from 18 to 11, excluding hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, dengue, and two forms of bacterial meningitis. Additionally, the changes were accompanied by the removal of 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is intended to stand as an independent panel of vaccine experts who evaluate the latest research to determine the safety and efficacy of vaccines.   

 The General Services Administration (GSA) has proposed requiring applicants, both when initially registering in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and during each annual renewal, to agree to three new certifications. The agreements prohibit grantees from supporting illegal immigration, illegal activities that threaten public safety or national security, and behavior that violates federal antidiscrimination laws.  

Nonprofits and state and local governments alike rely on the federal System for Award Management (SAM) portal to apply for and manage federal financial assistance. The proposed changes are expected to broadly affect grantees, as vague and complex language poses key compliance challenges. 

The proposed changes follow guidance from the Department of Justice prohibiting federal grantees from engaging in unlawful discrimination. 

The General Services Administration is requesting comments and will continue to accept feedback through March 30. 

ACF Clarifies Grounds for Child Removal Decisions  

On March 3, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent letters to all 50 states reminding them that children may not be removed from their homes solely because parents decline to support a child’s self-identification as the opposite sex. 

The letter reinforces the obligation of state child welfare agencies to base child removal decisions on objective evidence of abuse or imminent risk of harm under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It also warned states not to interpret federal definitions too broadly in ways that infringe on parental rights or lead to unnecessary foster placements by removing children for reasons that do not constitute abuse and neglect.  

According to the press release detailing the agency’s decision, ACF issued the letter with the hopes of keeping more families together and reducing the number of parents drawn into the child welfare system solely because they decline to support sex-reassignment interventions. 

ACF Partners to Modernize Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems  

The Administration for Children and Families introduced the Child Welfare Technology Incubator to modernize the planning, launch, and implementation of Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems (CCWIS). The Incubator will provide targeted technical assistance, scalable CCWIS blueprints for other states, and create a place for states to receive frequent feedback on proven planning and implementation tools. By partnering with states earlier to develop technology infrastructure, ACF hopes states will move faster, build smarter, and deliver better outcomes for children and families nationwide. 

ACF Issues Child Welfare Policy Manual Revisions

The Administration for Children and Families has revised the Child Welfare Policy Manual to ensure alignment with the 2024 Foster Care Legal Representation final rule issued by (89 FR 40400).  The manual now clarifies that a title IV-E agency may claim such title IV-E administrative costs to the extent that they are necessary to support an attorney providing such representation.

Department of Education Announces Partnership with HHS to Support Family Engagement and School Support Programs 

The Department of Education recently announced its partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the safety and physical security of educational institutions. HHS will take a growing role in administering the School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV), School Safety National Activities, Ready to Learn Programming, Full-Service Community Schools, Promise Neighborhoods, and Statewide Family Engagement Centers.  

With oversight from the Department of Education (ED), HHS will manage competitions, provide technical assistance, and integrate ED’s programs with the larger suite of disaster preparedness and response programs that HHS already administers.  

The Department of Education shared the value of HHS’ experience and expertise in helping communities respond to serious events. Through the partnership, the Department of Education aims to consolidate resources and initiatives to provide a unified federal strategy focused on school support and related issues.  

For further information, the Department of Education has published a fact sheet. 

HHS Announces Efforts to Address Health Care Fraud 

The U.S. Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced they will defer $259.5 million of quarterly federal Medicaid funding in Minnesota to prevent the payment of questionable claims while further investigation is completed. If Minnesota does not address critical program integrity vulnerabilities or demonstrate that the expenditures are allowable, CMS may defer more than $1 billion in federal funds over the next year. CMS also continues to closely oversee Minnesota’s efforts to implement its corrective action plan to address the underlying causes of fraud, waste, and abuse within the state. Minnesota has since filed a lawsuit to prevent the funds from being withheld. 

The agencies’ decision arrives during critical allegations of the misuse of federal taxpayer dollars in Minnesota’s social services programs. On March 4, the House Oversight Committee continued to investigate the allegations through its second hearing, Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II. The Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, and Reverend Mariah Tollgaard testified before the committee. 

Rising Health Care Costs Endanger HIV Care and Prevention Programs 

The National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, a non-profit association that represents public health officials who administer HIV and hepatitis programs in the U.S, recently issued a report warning of diminishing access to health care through AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). ADAPs provide life-saving HIV treatment to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS in all 50 states and the surrounding territories. ADAP programs are estimated to support about 25% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. 

While funding for ADAPs has remained relatively constant, healthcare costs have continued to rise at rates often unsustainable for states. According to the report, at least 18 states have implemented measures to reduce costs, including by raising eligibility requirements, and five more states are weighing similar steps as budget shortfalls grow. 

House Energy and Commerce Committee Considers Legislation to Protect Children’s Online Safety 

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently advanced a package of eight bills intended to protect children’s online safety. The legislation would establish national age verification requirements and create new online safety and privacy protections for children. Additionally, the legislation requires parental control tools to implement strict privacy settings, instructs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct third-party audits of safety protocols, and directs federal agencies to study the impact of social media on mental health.  

Through the bills’ consideration, Democratic representatives stressed the need for data protections and the potential of federal action to preempt state protections. Certain bills drew particular concern as they diverged from their Senate counterparts. Notably, the Senate versions of the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act retain bipartisan support as they include language requiring companies to design products with kids’ safety in mind. 

The legislation also sparked First Amendment concerns regarding the potential to limit free speech, and arises as courts consider a similar question. Recent litigation prevented the enforcement of Senate Bill 854, a Virginia bill that required social media platforms to determine whether a user is under the age of 16. Companies were then obligated to set a default restriction of one hour per day of usage for those accounts unless a parent or guardian gives verifiable consent to increase or decrease that limit.   

Advocates encouraged the bill as a public-health measure to combat excessive screen time and its alleged negative effects on children’s mental health and academic performance.  However, NetChoice, a trade association whose membership includes major technology companies such as YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, and X Corp, filed a lawsuit. NetChoice argued that the statute violates the First Amendment by restricting access to lawful speech and expression online. 

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a preliminary injunction, halting enforcement of the law while the lawsuit continues.  Judge Giles determined that the law violates the First Amendment Rights of minors and the companies’ rights to distribute content.   

House Agriculture Committee Advances the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

The House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by a vote of 34 to 17, with the support of seven Democratic members. The bill will now advance to the House floor for a full vote.

The bill included amendments to strengthen access to affordable broadband service and health care access in rural areas. It also allows states to redirect up to 20 percent of Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds toward the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which is expected to reduce food insecurity by supporting local food banks and community food programs. Additionally, the bill expands child care options for rural families by recognizing Head Start providers as eligible entities under the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative.

Education and Workforce Committee Passes Bills to Address Fraud and Strengthen Oversight for Child Care Assistance Programs

On March 5, the Education and Workforce Committee passed eight bills to address fraud and strengthen oversight in federal child care assistance programs. A few provisions include creating a 5% threshold for improper payments before corrective action is required, improving data sharing between state agencies, and withholding funds from states that fail to address fraud or repeat violations. Additionally, the legislation would codify the Department of Health and Human Services’ practice of auditing states’ Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds every three years. Child care providers found to have committed fraud would be prohibited from receiving CCDBG funds.

The bills will now be considered by the House as a whole.

To review the bills, the Education and Workforce Committee has published a press release outlining the legislation.

House Passes Legislation to Fully Fund the Department of Homeland Security

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, by a vote of 221 to 209. However, the bill’s path remains uncertain in the Senate, potentially leading the partial government shutdown to continue. The lapse in federal funding raises key concerns for national security and federal responses to and recovery from natural disasters.

The House Committee on Appropriations has published a summary outlining the proposed bill.

Department of Labor Announces $81M To Support Training and Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals 

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced approximately $81 million in grants through the Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) initiative. The grants will be offered to organizations to provide training programs to formerly incarcerated individuals in skilled trades and high-demand industries. Training and employment services include pre-apprenticeships, work-based learning, AI and digital literacy training, credential attainment, and paid work experience, with a specific focus on placing participants within the proven model of Registered Apprenticeships. 

The department intends to fund up to 20 RESTART projects nationwide, with approximately $30 million allocated to national or regional intermediary organizations serving youth and young adults, and up to $5.1 million for individual awards. The remaining funds will be awarded to states, territories, and tribes to support state-led projects that integrate RESTART grant activities with the public workforce system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These grants will leverage existing workforce infrastructure and ensure effective strategies can be sustained after the grant period.   

ASPE Report Examines Trends in Title IV-E Foster Care Expenditures FY2019-FY2023 

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation recently published a brief analyzing reported expenditures and reimbursements within the Title IV-E foster care program. The report relied on the most recent years of publicly available claims data, including fiscal years 2019 to 2023, to examine administrative costs, identify how average monthly costs per child have changed over time, and provide a snapshot of variation across states in FY2023. 

Key findings include that administrative costs, especially in-placement administrative costs, have been the largest driver of Title IV-E foster care reported expenditures and reimbursements from FY2019 to FY2023. Average monthly administrative expenses per child increased 40 percent from FY2019 to FY2023; however, the average monthly number of children served through administrative-related Title IV-E foster care activities has declined.  

FNS Issues Guidance as States Prepare for the End of Required Funding of SNAP-Ed 

The Food and Nutrition Service issued a memo on Feb. 24, detailing a series of questions and answers to inform closeout procedures for state agencies that intend to close their FY 2025 SNAP-Ed grant and return unexpended grant funding. The guidance follows the recent reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, which terminated the required funding of SNAP-Ed with the fiscal year (FY) 2025 grant allocation. 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Texas Attorney General Issues Legal Opinion Preventing Mental Health Providers from Providing Gender Affirming Care  

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, recently clarified the scope of a 2023 Texas law, SB14, which prohibited health care providers from providing gender-affirming care to minors. Paxton specified that the law extends to any individual with a license that facilitates care in the transition of a child’s sex, including licensed mental health care providers. Health care providers found to violate the law are at risk of losing their license. 

The Supreme Court upheld a similar Tennessee law, a landmark decision that protects the Texas law and similar state laws restricting access to gender affirming care. Currently, 27 states have enacted laws and policies that limit access to gender affirming care.  

The Attorney General’s opinion also arrives as the Supreme Court prohibited California from enforcing state rules that require teachers to use children’s preferred pronouns and restricts when schools may notify parents of students who come out as transgender. Holistically, the Supreme Court’s decisions introduce marked shifts in children’s ability to access gender affirming care. 

Federal Court Prevents the Cancellation of Mental Health Grants Representing Nearly $1 Billion  

In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Education cancelled federal grants worth nearly $1 billion after determining that they did not align with agency priorities. The grants had been approved in fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 under the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.  

Eight months later, the Department issued new priorities and distributed more than $208 million in new mental health grants. However, within a week, a federal judge ordered the permanent reinstatement of the Education Department’s mental health grants in the 16 states that filed the lawsuits.  

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has since upheld the decision, determining the administration failed to adequately demonstrate that it engaged in the decision-making required to notify recipients of why their multiyear grants were discontinued. While the permanent injunction does not require the Department to release any funds to the states that filed the lawsuits, it does require it to issue new funding decisions. 

Federal Court Prevents USDA From Withholding SNAP Funds to States That Refuse to Share Sensitive Data 

In November and December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ordered states to provide records of households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including their Social Security numbers, home addresses, and immigration statuses. 

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California determined the USDA cannot withhold food assistance funds from states that fail to comply. The verdict ensures SNAP funds will continue to states as litigation continues.  

Federal Court Mandates Bond Hearings for Immigrants  

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California recently vacated an immigration court ruling that mandated migrants and individuals without American citizenship remain in detention while their cases proceeded in immigration courts. The verdict holds the potential to guarantee bond hearings for many migrant detainees who have not been convicted of criminal offenses. 

The verdict followed the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ determination that the detention practices are legal. In response to the District Court’s ruling, Chief Immigration Judge Teresa Riley emailed immigration judges, maintaining that Sykes’ findings didn’t overrule or vacate the Fifth Circuit’s interpretation of the detention statute. 

Multiple appellate circuits nationwide are considering a similar question of whether the Trump Administration is legally able to enforce a mandatory detention policy. Nevertheless, the District Court’s ruling carries significant weight as it applies to detainees nationwide. 

On Feb. 19, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the rescission of 35,781 pages of obsolete sub-regulatory guidance, representing 74% of ACF’s total sub-regulatory footprint.

All rescinded documents have been archived and remain publicly accessible for transparency and historical reference. Active ACF guidance is available at HHS.gov/guidance and through individual program offices’ webpages.

The decision is intended to mirror the agency’s commitment to regulatory efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

DHS Funding Expires, Creating a Partial Government Shutdown

The recent appropriations legislation, H.R. 7148, secured funding for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.   

However, the bill temporarily funded the Department of Homeland Security through a continuing resolution, extending funding through Feb. 13. The funding has since lapsed, triggering a partial shutdown of key agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration, and the Coast Guard. 

Disaster relief is now facing uncertainty after FEMA was ordered to suspend the deployment of hundreds of aid workers to disaster-torn areas across the US. 

SAMHSA and ACF Issue Dear Colleague Letter  

Following the establishment of the White House Faith Office and the Religious Liberty Commission, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as operating divisions of the Department of Health & Human Services, issued a Dear Colleague Letter. They jointly sought to underscore that both agencies welcome full participation by faith-based organizations in their programs and activities. 

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Releases the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 

The House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) released a statement announcing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, colloquially known as the Farm Bill. 

The comprehensive bill provides aid to farmers to mitigate market uncertainty and to navigate the aftermath of natural disasters. The bill supports rural development by strengthening broadband connectivity, protecting access to health care, enhancing efforts to meet childcare needs, addressing workforce challenges, and strengthening rural water infrastructure. It also advances policies to expand the reach of critical nutrition programs, increase accountability, and prioritize innovation.  

Additionally, the proposed Farm Bill requires the Department of Agriculture to include all identified SNAP payment errors in a supplemental annual report. It requires the Government Accountability Office to investigate state SNAP administrative costs. It also reauthorizes the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program and waives the federal cost-share match for persistent poverty counties and expanding produce access. 

The House Committee on Agriculture has published a summary with further information. 

HUD Proposes Rule to Require Citizenship and Legal Status Verifications

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently proposed a rule requiring citizenship verification requirements for all individuals residing within HUD-assisted housing. If a family no longer qualifies for continued assistance, they may become eligible for a temporary deferral, ensuring continued access to affordable housing.

The proposed rule would affect individuals in a covered program, including the Public Housing program, the Housing Choice Voucher program, and certain other community development programs.

Once published within the Federal Register, comments will be due in 60 days.

House Ways and Means Committee Holds Hearing to Examine Foreign Influence in American Nonprofits 

On Feb. 10, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing to examine how foreign influence may exploit tax-exempt status to interfere with America’s political and regulatory climate. 

Witnesses discussed the danger of donor-advised funds, fiscal sponsorships, and public grants being used to obscure the origin, destination, and use of funds. They also highlighted issues with separation between 501(c)(3) charities and 501(c)(4) political organizations. 

Witnesses spoke to the need for transparency and accountability. Recommendations included revising Form 990 to include standardized questions focused on fiscal sponsorships, donor-advised funds, foreign operations, and pass-through funding structures.    

The hearing raises a serious concern about diminishing trust in the nonprofit sector and follows a trend of increased scrutiny and allegations of fraud. The hearing also arrives as the nonprofit sector faces immense uncertainty surrounding federal appropriations and the timely continuation of federal grants.  

Congressional Hearing Discusses Restoring Trust and Transparency in Public Housing Agencies 

On Feb. 10, the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing to examine how the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds and oversees public housing authorities (PHAs). PHAs serve approximately 9 million Americans nationwide by administering HUD’s public housing programs.  

Chairman Meuser (R-PA) of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations stressed the need to prioritize oversight and enforcement of PHAs, including through enhanced data analytics and AI-enabled tracking systems. He also encouraged reviewing high-performing housing authorities to identify replicable best practices.  

Witnesses highlighted the importance of strengthened auditing requirements and the use of performance-based funding metrics, while also noting the challenges HUD faces due to funding and staffing shortages. 

House Committee on Education & Workforce Discusses Disability Labor Law 

On Feb. 13, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a hearing to examine the benefits, opportunities, and impact that section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act provides to workers with disabilities.  

Section 14(c) allows businesses and nonprofit organizations to employ workers who would otherwise be unable to find employment, often due to a severe disability, with wages commensurate with productivity. Approximately 93% of organizations with a 14(c) certificate are community rehabilitation programs (CRPs), organizations that provide employment, rehabilitation services, training, skill development, and social engagement. 

Witnesses stressed the importance of the program for individuals with severe and profound disabilities, as it offers safe and meaningful pathways to community engagement. They also expressed concern about the program’s elimination, the resulting job losses, and the potential for physical, social, and emotional regression, as well as disconnection from community members. 

However, other witnesses raised concerns, detailing legacies of research that demonstrate that subminimum wage settings reduce the likelihood that individuals will enter competitive integrated employment. Certain states have eliminated the option because wages are set by productivity rather than minimum wage standards. In the policy’s absence, meaningful employment gains have continued to grow.  

Senate Committee Examines Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs 

On Feb. 12, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing to discuss fraud in child care assistance programs. Witnesses and senators stressed the need for high-quality child care. They shared their profound impact in offering children early education and enabling parents to reenter the workforce confidently. 

Witnesses also detailed the barriers child care providers face, especially in light of recent funding freezes. Complex regulations, staffing shortages, and rising costs have led providers to close, reducing family choice, deepening child care deserts, and disproportionately harming rural and underserved communities. 

Witnesses emphasized the care child care facilities take to steward federal funds through oversight and safeguards, ensuring they are used appropriately and transparently. They recommended strengthening investment to increase families’ access to affordable and high-quality child care. Witnesses advocated for common-sense measures utilizing existing structures and data to identify and eradicate fraud.  

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Federal Court Pauses the Cancellation of Public Health Grants 

The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent the cancellation of $600 million in public health grants across California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. As a result of the order, the Trump administration cannot issue guidance or directives to cancel public health grants to the states through Feb. 26 as litigation continues. 

The Department of Health and Human Services stated the grants were to be terminated because they do not reflect the priorities of the Centers for Disease Control. 

Federal Court Orders Reimbursements for Migrant Support Services Before Grant Terminations 

The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently found that the Department of Homeland Security failed to comply with a court order directing it to unfreeze grants totaling approximately $55 million. The grants were issued to Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; and Pima County, Arizona, to offer support to migrants. 

As a result, the court ordered that the federal government process reimbursement requests submitted before the grants in question were formally terminated in April by Feb. 23.  

Subscribe to the Policy and Advocacy Radar to receive our biweekly policy roundup, which includes commentary on issues in Social Current’s federal policy agenda, opportunities to take action, and curated news and opportunities.

The 119th Congress has introduced major policy shifts and significant uncertainty, which is quickly and critically shifting central priorities and concerns among the human and social services sector. Monitoring legislation and acting during the earliest stages is essential for leading strategic, effective change.

Social Current’s Human Services Legislative Tracker helps users monitor the status of legislation and adjust their advocacy accordingly. The tool tracks key legislation affecting education, immigration, and access to health care, as well as several additional issue areas that impact the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve.

Below you will find tools and strategies to best utilize the tracker and strengthen your organization’s advocacy approaches.

How Legislative Monitoring Can Inform Your Organization

Policy awareness and literacy are essential to supporting informed decision making and effective advocacy, enabling organizations to adapt confidently and strategically to a rapidly changing federal environment. Social Current’s Human Services Legislative Tracker aims to support organizations through three central approaches:

Advocacy in Every Stage of the Legislative Process

Social Current’s Human Services Legislative Tracker is designed to support organizations in developing a strategic approach to advocacy. By monitoring legislation in stages, advocates can strengthen the impact and reach of their efforts. Consider the following opportunities to tailor your approach to advocacy.

  1. Awaiting Committee Consideration: The legislative tracker monitors the lifespan of a bill, beginning with referrals to relevant committees. Shortly after bills are introduced, they are sent to committees with the needed expertise to examine their impact. The first stage is often the most important, as committees only send a select few bills to be heard by their entire chamber of Congress. A 2012 study found that approximately 85% of bills never leave the committee, but nearly 90% of those recommended by a committee are voted on by the legislature. This stage is essential for advocating needed bills and generating bipartisan support across Congress.
  2. When engaging in advocacy, consider requesting co-sponsorships. A substantial number of representatives co-sponsoring legislation demonstrates a shared need for action to Congressional leadership. Bipartisan supportoften increases the likelihood that the bill will be brought to a vote. Advocates may also consider hosting site visits and conducting virtual and in-person meetings to detail the bill’s impact and offer data to illuminate its importance, strengthening momentum for change and issue visibility. Concerns for a bill’s impact may be addressed in partnership with representatives by introducing an amendment to be brought before the committee.
  3. Awaiting a Congressional Floor Vote: Once bills have been voted in favor by their respective committees, a vote may then be scheduled for all members of the House or the Senate, depending on their chamber of origin.. Meetings with representatives and efforts to raise awareness for the bill’s impact continue to remain essential. Coordinating efforts with partner organizations and grassroots advocates can offer multiple perspectives, strengthening representatives’ understanding of an issue’s impact on their constituents and the communities they represent.
  4. Passed One Chamber of Congress: During the 119th Congress, several bills have passed one chamber of Congress and are awaiting further action. Priorities among the House and the Senate occasionally differ, often preventing a bill’s passage through one chamber from guaranteeing passage through the other. Nevertheless, a bill’s passage reflects shared priorities among representatives and provides invaluable insight into their areas of focus.
  5. Passed Congress, Awaiting the President’s Signature: Once a bill passes both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the president. As bills await the president’s signature, organizations may consider preparing their networks and leadership for compliance requirements. They may also consider offering educational materials to empower their staff and clients with needed information to adapt to emerging legislation and guidance.
  6. Enacted as Law: Finally, once a bill is enacted, organizations may continue to raise awareness of its impact and the issues it touches. Should bills be passed that could negatively impact an organization or the communities it serves, advocates are encouraged to continue partnering with representatives and relevant agencies throughout the implementation process.

Policy in Practice

Policy shapes every aspect of the human and social service sector, yet complex and technical language are key barriers to understanding its impact. Social Current’s Human Services Legislative Tracker is an essential tool, providing strategies and resources to help organizations interpret policy developments, respond quickly, and advocate with confidence in a dynamic legislative landscape.

Following a temporary, partial government shutdown, Congress passed five full-year funding agreements alongside a temporary continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. 

The appropriations legislation encompasses the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, extending their funding through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.  

The funding agreement contained notable increases, including for homeless assistance grants, Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. It also required HHS to ensure that disbursements through the Payment Management System are processed within 5 business days. Any delays must be reported to Congress, along with an explanation of the circumstances. It extended Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2027, increased funding for Community Health Centers, and removed certain age restrictions under Medicaid’s optional buy-in groups for working adults with disabilities.

Additionally, the appropriations bill required that the Department of Health and Human Services report staffing levels to Congress, ensuring they retain sufficient staffing to fulfill their statutory responsibilities in a timely manner. Any reorganizations will need to be made publicly available to allow for an independent review. Notifications must be made at least 60 days before any steps are taken to begin the reorganization. 

However, the Department of Homeland Security’s funding agreement will expire Feb. 13. The legislation has sparked strong debate in Congress as representatives diverge over legislative guardrails to regulate immigration enforcement. If representatives fail to reach an agreement, the Department’s funding will lapse, affecting the agencies within, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

HHS Announces Investment in Recovery Initiatives Following a Recent Executive Order 

Following an executive order to coordinate the federal government’s response to substance use disorder, HHS announced a comprehensive plan to strengthen prevention and expand treatment through two primary initiatives: the STREETS Initiative and the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Grant Program.  

The Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports (STREETS) Initiative will fund targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization, and crisis intervention, while connecting Americans experiencing homelessness and addiction to stable housing with a clear focus on long-term recovery and independence.  

Additionally, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) grant program is designed to support adults with serious mental illness. AOT is a civil court-ordered, community-based outpatient mental health treatment program for adults with serious mental illness who are unable to engage with conventional outpatient treatment and are unlikely to be able to live safely in their community.  

The STREETS Initiative and AOT grant announcements coincide with SAMHSA’s $794 million first allocation of 2026 annual block grant awards. The grant will direct $319 million to support comprehensive community mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance. Additionally, $475 million is allocated to the agency’s Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant program to prevent and treat substance abuse. 

ACF Launches New Public Dashboard on State Child Welfare Performance 

On Jan. 26, ACF announced a new public dashboard showing state-by-state performance data on critical child safety and permanency outcomes. The dashboard presents seven statewide data indicators: two safety indicators examining whether children are protected from abuse and neglect once involved with the child welfare system, and five permanency indicators that evaluate whether children achieve stability and permanency in their living situations. ACF hopes the platform will enable states to identify, collaborate on, and scale best practices to further innovation in child welfare. 

CMS Announces Selection of Drugs for Third Cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program 

On Jan. 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the selection of 15 high-cost prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D and medications payable under Medicare Part B for the third cycle of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The medications treat a variety of conditions, including cancer, psoriatic arthritis, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. 

Negotiations with participating drug companies will take place in 2026, and any negotiated and renegotiated prices will become effective Jan. 1, 2028.  

The announcement follows federal guidance clarifying pathways for pharmaceutical manufacturers to offer lower-cost prescription drugs directly to patients, including Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. Additionally, TrumpRX was recently announced, a direct-to-consumer website that offers individuals access to discounts on several medications. While the discounts are currently offered primarily for fertility and weight loss medications, the Administration expects to announce additional drugs soon.

Together, the actions work to increase healthcare accessibility during a critical period of growing challenges in obtaining affordable coverage. While additional time is needed to understand the impact of expired Affordable Care Act subsidies, early federal and state estimates show drops in enrollment.

Departments of Labor and Education Issue Guidance for State Plans to Align Education and Workforce Development Systems 

The Department of Labor recently issued a Training and Employment Guidance Letter outlining the priorities, modification requirements, submission process, and deadline for the required modification of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Unified and Combined State Plans for PY 2026 and PY 2027. The guidance is intended to simplify processes for states, integrate stakeholder engagement, and better align education with sector needs.  

The departments expect more states to submit Combined State Plans with partner programs, including Perkins V Career and Technical Education. The original deadline for State Plan modifications was March 3 but has been extended to April 30 to allow flexibility and promote greater alignment.  

ACF Expands Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for At-Risk Families 

On Feb. 2, ACF announced that buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are now approved as prevention services eligible for funding through Title IV-E. Each of the medications was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). 

States and tribes can now receive a 50% federal match to provide buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone to parents when children are at imminent risk of entering foster care but can remain safely in the home or in a kinship placement with access to these treatments. 

The Assistant Secretary issued a corresponding letter. Meanwhile, the Children’s Bureau has shared related language jurisdictions may use to amend their Title IV-E Prevention Plans. 

HUD Orders Immediate Citizenship Verification for All Tenants in HUD-Funded Housing Nationwide 

On Jan. 23, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that all Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and owners participating in HUD-funded housing are required to review their EIV-SAVE Tenant Match Report, verify that they have accurately reported individuals’ citizenship or immigration status to determine eligibility, and initiate corrective actions. PHAs and owners who fail to comply with the established requirements by Feb. 22 will be subject to sanctions.   

Departments of Education and Treasury Release Joint Fact Sheet on the Education Freedom Tax Credit 

The Education Freedom Tax Credit created by the recent reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, enables taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).   

Scholarships may be directed toward any qualified education expense of an eligible student, whether they attend a K-12 public, private, or charter school. Examples include tuition for students to attend private schools of choice, tutoring at public schools, and support services for students with disabilities.  

For further information, the Departments of Education and Treasury released a joint fact sheet.  

Final Rule Reduces Civil Service Safeguards for a Broad Swath of Policy Federal Employees 

The Trump administration recently finalized a rule to improve employee accountability and address performance management challenges across the federal workforce. However, in amending their status, an estimated 50,000 federal workers will experience the loss of essential civil service safeguards and whistleblower protections. The rule also facilitates the administration’s ability to terminate their employment as the new status more closely mirrors that of political appointees.  

The Office of Personnel Management is now accepting comments.

ACF Releases Funding Update for SSBG and CBG for Fiscal Year 2026 

The Office of Community Services announced the release of the first quarter and 30 days funding release for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Consolidated Block Grant (CBG) for Fiscal Year 2026.

The SSBG allocation chart details each grant recipient’s allotment.

ACF Publishes Issue Brief Regarding TANF Contingency Fund

In January 2026, ACF published an issue brief examining the TANF Contingency Fund, which provides temporary supplemental funding to states during economic downturns. States qualify according to unemployment rates or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) caseload growth relative to fiscal year (FY) 1994 or 1995 baselines.

This brief examines how the Fund’s SNAP caseload benchmark and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement hold the potential to result in routine eligibility, regardless of economic distress, and funding concentrations among a small number of states. 

The brief was published near the release of fiscal year 2024 TANF and MOE spending and transfers.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary  

Federal Court Upholds Asylum Fees 

A previous court order prevented agencies from implementing fees created by the recent reconciliation bill, H.R 1, because of inconsistencies in the policies. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland recently overturned the ruling, determining federal agencies maintained a uniform interpretation of asylum fees. 

The verdict follows a policy memo issued by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, within the Department of Homeland Security, offering further guidance regarding required payments of annual asylum fee for individuals with claims pending for one year between July 5 and Sept. 30.

Federal Court Temporarily Blocks DHS Termination of Haitian Migrant Protections 

The US District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily paused federal efforts to remove deportation protections for Haitian immigrants. Individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will retain their lawful status and employment authorization as litigation continues. 

As its title suggests, TPS is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain countries who cannot return home safely, often due to conflict, environmental disasters, and epidemics. Foreign nationals with TPS may stay in the US for up to 18 months with legal work authorization.   

The order arrived shortly after the District Court for the District of Massachusetts stayed the termination of TPS status for Ethiopian immigrants. Approximately 5,000 TPS recipients may lawfully remain in the US pending litigation as a result.

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The federal government is currently funded through Jan. 30. Members of Congress have worked closely to reach funding agreements to extend federal funding through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. 

On Jan. 22, the House of Representatives passed a funding package, H.R. 7148, by a vote of 341 to 88. The bill provides funding for key agencies and essential programs, like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. If passed by the Senate, several agencies will experience notable funding increases. 

Within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, homeless assistance grants will increase by $366 million compared to fiscal 2025. Additionally, the US Interagency Council on Homelessness would be required to be staffed in accordance with federal law. 

Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program formula grants and the Community Services Block Grant Act program would receive slight funding increases, compared to fiscal 2025. Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant would each receive an $85 million increase, although refugee and entrant assistance programs would see a $1.2 billion decrease. 

The bill also does not extend the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that significantly increased access to affordable health care through the Marketplace but does include health care provisions. The appropriations package extends certain public health programs, including Medicare telehealth flexibilities, and allocates $4.6 billion to community health centers. 

In addition to funding, the bill includes language requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to report staffing levels to Congress, ensuring they retain sufficient staffing to fulfill their statutory responsibilities in a timely manner. Any reorganizations will need to be made publicly available to allow for an independent review. Notifications must be made at least 60 days before any steps are taken to begin the reorganization.

Alongside notice of agency reorganizations, the appropriations bill requires Congress to be notified at least three days before grant terminations are announced and before any restrictions are implemented that would delay the reimbursement of funds through the Payment Management System (PMS). The bill requires HHS to ensure that disbursements through PMS are processed within 5 business days. Any delays must be reported to Congress, along with an explanation of the circumstances.

For more information on the provisions within the appropriations bill, the Senate Committee on Appropriations has published a series of resources. 

Department of Education Delays Involuntary Collections on Federal Student Loans  

On Jan. 16, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will delay involuntary collections on federal student loans, including through Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program.  

The decision arrives as the Department works to implement major student loan repayment reforms implemented through the recent budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, including through alternate payment plans.  

For more information regarding expected changes to student loans, Social Current has published a comprehensive brief outlining critical provisions of H.R. 1.  

Department of Labor Extends Deadline for States to Meet Employment Service Job Center Staffing Restrictions 

On Jan. 21, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule that will delay the compliance dates states must meet when implementing the merit staffing requirements for Employment Service. The deadline is now Jan. 21, 2027. 

The Employment Service is a core program of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that assists in American Job Centers nationwide. The rule intends to introduce greater flexibility to staffing options.   

House Education Subcommittee Explores Opportunities to Grow Access to Affordable Child Care

On Jan.13, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing to discuss critical barriers to affordable child care. The representatives and witnesses highlighted the private sector’s important role and the need for innovation to meet families’ unique needs.

The hearing underscored the profound impact child care has on the economy. Recent research commissioned by Bright Horizons, a nonprofit that partners with companies to provide on-site childcare solutions, found that 67% of working parents feel forced to choose between focusing on their career or taking care of their family. Witnesses spoke to the importance of affordable child care in enabling parents to participate in the workforce and pursue higher education, sustaining economic stability for families and communities.

Recommendations to increase access to affordable child care included workforce incentives for employees, including the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit. Throughout, participants also stressed the importance of creativity and flexibility to permit innovation.

Work & Welfare Subcommittee Discusses Strengthening the Child Support Enforcement Program

On Jan. 21, the Work & Welfare Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss pathways to strengthen the Child Support Enforcement Program. The representatives and witnesses highlighted the critical role the Child Support program plays in promoting the financial well-being of children and families.

Chairman LaHood (R-Ill.) detailed its economic importance, noting that in 2024, states collected more than $25 billion in child support payments and served more than 11 million families, or 18% of all children in the U.S. Among families served, 24% had incomes below the poverty line.

Representatives and witnesses also underscored the need to modernize the program in light of a rapidly changing labor market and technological environment. The rise of independent contractors and aging technology and case-management platforms within states has fostered critical barriers.

Witnesses recommended coordinated employment services, including through court-ordered programs for parents who are unemployed or underemployed. Additional recommendations included increasing connections between parents and agency personnel to help families navigate the child support system and modernizing technological platforms and systems.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Appeals Court Approves the Denial of Medicaid Funds to Certain Abortion Providers   

On Dec. 12, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit overturned a lower court’s ruling, determining that a provision of H.R. 1 that denied Medicaid funds to certain abortion providers is constitutional. 

H.R. 1 removed federal Medicaid funding from abortion providers that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in fiscal year 2023, as well as any entities affiliated with the providers. The provision primarily affects Planned Parenthood and two separate organizations. 

Previously, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts determined the law unconstitutionally targets Planned Parenthood and violates the First Amendment. However, the appellate court held that the law relies on Congress’ inherent taxing and spending power. Affected parties have the choice between receiving Medicaid funding and abandoning the provision of abortion services or refusing Medicaid funding and continuing to provide abortion services. 

Wyoming Supreme Court Overturns Law Severely Restricting Abortion Access 

On Jan. 6, the Wyoming Supreme Court found recently passed state laws restricting abortion access unjustifiably limit women’s state constitutional right to make their own health care decisions. 

The lawsuit centered a 2023 law, Life is a Human Right Act, which prohibited the provision of abortions within Wyoming, with certain exceptions. It also addressed S.F. 0109, which criminalized prescribing, dispensing, distributing, selling, or using any medication to perform an abortion.  

The lawsuit was brought by medical providers, patients, and organizations, who argued that the laws violated individuals’ right to make health care decisions. They referred to a 2012 amendment voters passed, enshrining the right of health care access. 

As a result of the verdict, abortion will now become legal in Wyoming. The justices stressed the fundamental right of every competent adult to make their own health-care decisions.  

Federal Court Requires HHS to Pause DEI Grant Conditions for Head Start Program Funds 

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington halted recent actions to restrict Head Start’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and issue mass layoffs at the Office of Head Start. The order applies to programs nationwide. 

The lawsuit was filed after the Office of Head Start notified providers that federal funding for training, technical assistance, and other program expenditures to promote or participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives will not be approved. The lawsuit also addressed the closure of half of Head Start’s regional offices and mass reduction-in-force. 

Plaintiffs detailed the significant challenges providers faced in accessing needed funding, endangering vital access to early childhood education for nearly 750,000 infants, toddlers, and preschool children nationwide. 

Judge Ricardo S. Martinez Chambers issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services from imposing grant conditions that require recipients of Head Start program funds to certify that the cash will not be used to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Department of Health and Human Services has activated Defend the Spend for all Child Care and Development Fund grantees. In response to suspected fraudulent activity, HHS is seeking additional records, including attendance records, licensing, inspection, and monitoring reports, and complaints and investigations.

The pause in child care funding is accompanied by a pause in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, Child Care and Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The states are now required to submit justifications and documentation before payments are released.

However, the programs are designed to reach families most in need, leading temporary pauses in funding to hold severe and potentially long-term challenges in securing needed child care, nutrition, and housing, among additional key services.

Funding disruptions have also extended to Community Schools and Promise Neighborhoods grant recipients. Community schools offer a wide range of services and supports for students and their families, including extended learning time, health care, tutoring programs, and internship opportunities. Likewise, Promise Neighbors were designed to invest in services for children in communities with high crime rates and low academic achievement. On Dec. 12, the Department of Education notified recipients of 19 grants across 11 states and the District of Columbia that they would not receive their remaining two or three years of expected funding. In total, the decision represents a loss of $168 million.

CMS Introduces a Series of Efforts to Increase Health Care Affordability  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed significant reforms to increase healthcare affordability and price transparency.  

On Dec. 21, CMS introduced two models, the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) and Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) Models. Each intends to reduce drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. While the GLOBE Model would test a new rebate formula for certain separately payable Medicare Part B drugs, the GUARD Model aims to test a payment model that modifies the inflation rebate for certain Medicare Part D medications.   

Both will operate for five years, the GLOBE Model beginning Oct. 1, 2026, and the GUARD Model beginning Jan. 1, 2027. 

Additionally, CMS, in partnership with the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury, issued a proposed rule to improve health care price transparency and accessibility. The rule aims to equip employers, innovators, and researchers with the needed information to strengthen negotiations, identify cost drivers, and build new tools that help consumers shop for care with confidence. 

CMS Issues Rural Health Grant Awards  

On Dec. 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all states will receive awards through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative created through the recent budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1.  

First-year awards averaged $200 million per state. Collectively, the funding aims to expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.    

Children’s Bureau Publishes CFSR Technical Bulletin #14

On Dec. 19, the Children’s Bureau published the Child & Family Services Reviews (CFSR) Technical Bulletin (TB) #14. The bulletin accompanies the Administration for Children and Families’ A Home for Every Child initiative. The initiative aims to ensure every child has access to a safe, stable, and loving home, while supporting states in building the capacity and systems to make that possible.

In support of a Home for Every Child and to strengthen the CFSR process, ACF is introducing a pilot opportunity for any state at any stage of CFSR round 4. The bulletin enables states in various stages of CFSR Round 4 to center their program improvement efforts around the goal of A Home for Every Child. Participating states will be excused from the PIP development and measurement process outlined in Technical Bulletin 13A.

The bulletin aims to maintain state accountability for achieving meaningful outcomes for children and families, enhance transparency and public accountability, reduce administrative burden, and provide states with greater flexibility to innovate and build capacity to manage and improve child welfare systems and outcomes.

USDA Issues Report Detailing Food Insecurity in America in 2024

On Dec. 30, the USDA published Household Food Security in the United States in 2024. The report details statistics on food security in U.S. households throughout 2024 based on the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement data collected by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, in December 2024.

According to the report, an estimated 86.3% of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year in 2024, with access to enough food at all times for an active, healthy life for all household members. Approximately 13.7% of households were food insecure at least some time during the year, although the population is not statistically significantly different from the populations recorded in 2022 or 2023. Approximately 5.4% of households experienced very low food security, with one or more members reporting reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns due to limited resources.

FNS Issues Guidance for FY 2026 Discretionary Exemption Allocations for SNAP ABAWDs

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 allocations of discretionary exemptions for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). The policy memorandum clarifies that qualifying individuals may participate in SNAP for only 3 months in any 36-month period, unless they meet certain work requirements or are otherwise exempt from the time limit. It also estimates the number of new discretionary exemptions each state agency has earned for FY 2026, according to 8% of the state’s estimated number of covered individuals.

FNS Issues Report to Review Risk Assessment Tools for SNAP Payment Accuracy

FNS published a study to analyze the risk assessment tools state agencies currently use to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The tools categorize program applications most likely to result in payment errors and allocate resources to improve the accuracy of SNAP benefit payments to families. This study assesses the effectiveness of a subset of those tools and identifies best practices in RA tool development, implementation, and evaluation.

Forty-three state agencies and one local agency provided information and data for the study, which provides detailed assessments of six state agency uses of RA tools, their effectiveness, and potential opportunities for improvement.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Appeals Court Approves the Denial of Medicaid Funds to Certain Abortion Providers   

On Dec. 12, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit overturned a lower court’s ruling, determining that a provision of H.R. 1 that denied Medicaid funds to certain abortion providers is constitutional. 

H.R. 1 removed federal Medicaid funding from abortion providers that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in fiscal year 2023, as well as any entities affiliated with the providers. The provision primarily affects Planned Parenthood and two separate organizations. 

Previously, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts determined the law unconstitutionally targets Planned Parenthood and violates the First Amendment. However, the appellate court held that the law relies on Congress’ inherent taxing and spending power. Affected parties have the choice between receiving Medicaid funding and abandoning the provision of abortion services or refusing Medicaid funding and continuing to provide abortion services. 

Wyoming Supreme Court Overturns Law Severely Restricting Abortion Access 

On Jan. 6, the Wyoming Supreme Court found recently passed state laws restricting abortion access unjustifiably limit women’s state constitutional right to make their own health care decisions. 

The lawsuit centered a 2023 law, Life is a Human Right Act, which prohibited the provision of abortions within Wyoming, with certain exceptions. It also addressed S.F. 0109, which criminalized prescribing, dispensing, distributing, selling, or using any medication to perform an abortion.  

The lawsuit was brought by medical providers, patients, and organizations, who argued that the laws violated individuals’ right to make health care decisions. They referred to a 2012 amendment voters passed, enshrining the right of health care access. 

As a result of the verdict, abortion will now become legal in Wyoming. The justices stressed the fundamental right of every competent adult to make their own health-care decisions.  

Federal Court Requires HHS to Pause DEI Grant Conditions for Head Start Program Funds 

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington halted recent actions to restrict Head Start’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and issue mass layoffs at the Office of Head Start. The order applies to programs nationwide. 

The lawsuit was filed after the Office of Head Start notified providers that federal funding for training, technical assistance, and other program expenditures to promote or participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives will not be approved. The lawsuit also addressed the closure of half of Head Start’s regional offices and mass reduction-in-force. 

Plaintiffs detailed the significant challenges providers faced in accessing needed funding, endangering vital access to early childhood education for nearly 750,000 infants, toddlers, and preschool children nationwide. 

Judge Ricardo S. Martinez Chambers issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services from imposing grant conditions that require recipients of Head Start program funds to certify that the cash will not be used to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.