The U.S. Department of Education negotiators agreed on a regulatory framework to implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program, establishing how short-term, workforce-oriented postsecondary programs can access federal Pell funds. The AHEAD committee’s consensus sets program length (roughly eight to 15 weeks), minimum instructional hours, state or gubernatorial sign-off, and performance guardrails tied to completion, job placement and earnings. Institutions eligible for Title IV aid must demonstrate alignment with state workforce priorities or documented employer demand to participate. Board leaders and institutional executives should note immediate governance obligations: boards must review program quality metrics, state approvals and new accountability reporting requirements that accompany Workforce Pell eligibility. The Education Department plans a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and public comment period next, meaning institutions must prepare curricula, data systems, and governor-level engagement now. The consensus signals new federal support for short-term credentialing but links funding to measurable employment outcomes, creating both opportunity and compliance risk for colleges and workforce providers. Separately, AGB’s December policy briefing and podcast flagged broader federal enforcement and accreditation shifts that will carry into 2026, urging trustees to monitor negotiated-rulemaking outcomes and pending regulatory actions that could alter Title IV participation conditions, institutional eligibility and federal oversight.