From Big Beautiful Bill to Big Complicated Rules

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Aired November 13, 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill may have made headlines but now comes the hard part: writing the rules. In this episode of dotEDU, we unpack the Education Department’s massive regulatory to-do list, from loan caps and professional degree definitions to new Pell and accountability rules. But first: the government shutdown has ended. What’s next?

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Register now for ACEx, Feb. 25-28, 2026, in Washington, DC

Reopening the Federal Government

With Government Reopened, Will Education Department Staff Return?
Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 12, 2025

FIPSE Notice

Federal Register Announcement
Nov. 12, 2025

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Home Page
Department of Education

ED’s ‘Special Projects’ Grants Spark Concern Over Congressional Intent
Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 12, 2025

Negotiated Rulemaking

Summary: One Big Beautiful Bill Act
ACE

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025
Department of Education

Comments on the Education Department’s Proposal to Implement the One Big Beautiful Bill
ACE | Aug. 29, 2025

How the Loan Cap Committee Reached Consensus
Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 10, 2025

ED Panel to Weigh Sorting of Grad and Professional Programs
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 26, 2025

Hosts and Guests
Mushtaq Gunja
Executive Director
Carnegie Classification Systems
Mushtaq Gunja serves as executive director of the Carnegie Classification systems and senior vice president at ACE, where he is in charge of running and reimagining the Carnegie framework. Prior to joining ACE, Gunja served as assistant dean in academi...
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Mushtaq Gunja - Executive Director - Co-host
Co-host
Mushtaq Gunja
Executive Director
Carnegie Classification Systems
Jon Fansmith
Senior Vice President
Government Relations and National Engagement
Jonathan Fansmith is the senior vice president for Government Relations and National Engagement at the American Council on Education (ACE), where he leads federal advocacy efforts on behalf of the nation's colleges and universities. He oversees ACE's e...
Read More
Jon Fansmith - Senior Vice President - Co-host
Co-host
Jon Fansmith
Senior Vice President
Government Relations and National Engagement
Emmanual Guillory
Senior Director of Government Relations
Government Relations
Emmanual A. Guillory is an advocate, policy expert, and motivational speaker who currently serves as the Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Council on Education (ACE). In this role, he manages an extensive portfolio of legislative ...
Read More
Emmanual Guillory - Senior Director of Government Relations - Co-host
Co-host
Emmanual Guillory
Senior Director of Government Relations
Government Relations
Sarah Spreitzer
Vice President and Chief of Staff
Government Relations
​​​Sarah Spreitzer represents ACE and its members on matters related to research policy and funding, federal policy, international students, immigration, and legislative issues.  Before joining ACE, Spreitzer held senior positions in higher e...
Read More
Sarah Spreitzer - Vice President and Chief of Staff - Co-host
Co-host
Sarah Spreitzer
Vice President and Chief of Staff
Government Relations
Transcript
​Transcript to come
About the Podcast

​​Each episode of dotEDU presents a deep dive into a major public policy issue impacting college campuses and students across the country. Hosts from ACE are joined by guest experts to lead you through thought-provoking conversations on topics such as campus free speech, diversity in admissions, college costs and affordability, and more. Find all episodes of the podcast at the dotEDU page.

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