Workforce Pell Negotiated Rulemaking Begins
Negotiated rulemaking for Workforce Pell is now underway. The AHEAD Committee met last week and reached consensus on initial Workforce Pell regulations, with all members voting in favor except for one abstention. Following the convening, the Department of Education will move forward with drafting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
While consensus was reached, discussions highlighted ongoing concerns around implementation, including institutional capacity, program eligibility, data infrastructure, governor approval processes, and the treatment of noncredit, apprenticeship, and short-term workforce programs. The AHEAD committee is scheduled to meet again January 5–9, 2026, to work through accountability components.
The Department of Education announced six new partnerships with the Department of Labor, which will relocate essential education programs under DOL’s purview. Learn more about what this means for workforce advocates here and the new partnerships here.
Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act Introduced in Congress
A major milestone for workforce advocates: the Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act has been introduced in Congress on a bipartisan, bicameral basis. This effort was championed by California’s own Representative David Valadao (R-CA-22), who represents San Joaquin Valley and Kings County, along with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Representative Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7).
Developed from National Skills Coalition network recommendations, the bill creates new Digital Skills at Work grants under WIOA to help states and local partners expand high-quality digital skills training aligned with industry demand, prioritizing workers facing barriers to employment.
Research shows that 91% of jobs in California require digital skills, yet only one in three workers have even the basic digital skills needed to access good jobs. With digital equity funds frozen and AI rapidly reshaping the labor market, Congress must embed digital skill-building across federal workforce programs. This bipartisan bill is an urgent and meaningful step forward.
We are proud to have strong support from organizations in the EDGE Network that signed on to our letter to endorse the bill. You can learn more and contact your legislators to support the bill: https://lnkd.in/eu_bar6m
Putting People at the Center of Our Economy in 2026
As debates in Washington continue to feel disconnected from the realities working people face, we remain grounded in a simple belief: workforce development should be a first-choice investment, not a second chance. When paired with efforts to improve job quality, advance equity, and address affordability, workforce policy can help create an economy where every worker can thrive.
As we head into 2026, we need a renewed national commitment to workforce development, one that reflects the diversity and aspirations of today’s workers and delivers on the promise of good jobs, valuable skills, and shared prosperity.
Read the year-end reflections from National Skills Coalition’s CEO, Brooke DeRenzis here.
Skills Summit Early Bird Registration Ends December 19
NSC’s 2026 Skills Summit will take place February 5–6 in Washington, DC. At a pivotal moment for federal funding decisions, this convening will be critical for engaging lawmakers on the investments needed to better support workers, learners, and families.
The event will also feature notable speakers, including Diane Yentel (President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits), Taylor Jo Isenberg (Economic Security Project), and Michael Strain (American Enterprise Institute).
View the full agenda and speaker list here.