Student eligibility for CARES Act money –
The Department of Education has finally provided guidance on what students qualify for CARES Act emergency grants.
The CARES Act Interim Final Rule (IFR) on student eligibility states: “For purposes of the phrases “grants to students” and “emergency financial aid grants to students” in sections 18004(a)(2), (a)(3), and (c) of the CARES Act, “student” is defined as an individual who is, or could be, eligible under section 484 of the Higher Education Act (HEA), to participate in programs under title IV of the HEA.”
The guidance confirms the Education Department’s prohibition on DACA, international, and select other classes of students receiving emergency grants under the CARES Act.
DACA upheld –
The Supreme Court last week blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, ruling to do so violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which sets out rulemaking procedures for federal agencies.
The majority opinion found the Department of Homeland Security’s move to eliminate the program was done in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner. However, the justices did not rule on the merits of the program itself.
Bostock decision –
The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled last week that federal law prohibits employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The majority opinion held that, “An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.”