U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix on last week, highlighting the university’s commitment to workforce development, affordable higher education, and preparing students for careers in high-demand industries.
McMahon was joined by Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) during the visit, which included discussions with university leadership, faculty, and students, along with a tour of GCU’s campus and business incubator.
The visit provided an opportunity for GCU President Brian Mueller to showcase the university’s academic programs, Christian mission, and efforts to address workforce shortages in Arizona and across the country.
During her visit, McMahon praised the university’s campus culture, educational approach, and emphasis on preparing students for employment in critical industries.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited GCU yesterday, praising the university's servant leadership and Christ-centered worldview. Read more: https://t.co/8Roquzy2Oc
“I’m coming away from Grand Canyon really understanding servant leadership,” McMahon said. “But also the understanding that there is certainly a very Christ-centered theme that you hear throughout the university, which I think is incredibly refreshing.”
McMahon also emphasized the importance of making higher education more affordable while ensuring academic programs align with the nation’s workforce needs.
“We certainly want to make sure that more and more colleges are affordable, and that we really are addressing the needs of the country,” McMahon added.
The visit highlighted workforce shortages in nursing, education, construction, manufacturing, semiconductor production, and electrical trades.
As part of the visit, McMahon met with university deans and students at GCU’s nearly completed Sheila and Mike Ingram Honors College building. Students discussed their academic experiences and opportunities to gain practical skills through university programs.
McMahon also toured Canyon Ventures, GCU’s business incubator, and Lux Precision Manufacturing, where university representatives highlighted entrepreneurship initiatives and opportunities for students to gain hands-on industry experience.
According to GCU, student-founded businesses associated with the incubator have generated millions of dollars in revenue while providing students with professional development and employment opportunities.
Canyon Ventures Director Connor Vicary, CityServe Director Nathan Cooper, and Lux Precision Manufacturing founder and CEO Weston Smith participated in the tour, explaining how the university supports business development and workforce training.
Mueller said the visit allowed federal education leadership to better understand the university’s growth and the impact of its educational model.
“You can’t explain that to people when you’re 2,000 miles away. You have to be here, and you have to experience that,” Mueller said. “For her to take the time to do this and then to recognize us the way that she did at the end, we’ll always remember that.”
GCU Vice President of Government Relations Dana Drew Shaw also emphasized the significance of having a senior federal education official observe the university’s programs firsthand.
McMahon concluded the visit by commending the university’s educational environment and its approach to preparing students for the workforce.
“I’ve now been to 47 states. I’ve been to many universities and schools. You get a feel pretty quickly from the general vibe and culture of campus, and this is A-1, A-plus,” McMahon said.
“This is an incredibly marvelous institution,” she added. “I’m very happy. Thank you very, very much for being an example for other universities throughout the country and throughout the world.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) announced its endorsement of four Arizona Republicans, including three incumbent congressmen and a gubernatorial candidate, citing their voting records on federal spending, government accountability, and fiscal responsibility.
In an October 23 announcement, CCAGW endorsed 12 candidates for the U.S. Senate, 123 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and six gubernatorial candidates nationwide based on their lifetime ratings, as reported in the organization’s 2025 Congressional Ratings.
The Arizona endorsements include Representatives Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), along with Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), who is running for governor.
According to CCAGW, Hamadeh received a lifetime rating of 100%, followed by Crane at 98%, Biggs at 97%, and Gosar at 93%.
“During their tenures in the Senate and House, these members of Congress have been strong and reliable votes to curb government waste and reform Washington,” said CCAGW President Tom Schatz.
“On top of their impressive voting records, they fought for increased accountability and transparency while opposing efforts to increase federal spending and adopt burdensome new regulations,” he added.
Since 1989, CCAGW has evaluated congressional roll call votes involving federal spending, taxation, transparency, and government accountability to assess lawmakers’ records on fiscal responsibility.
The organization’s 2025 Congressional Ratings examined 25 votes in the House of Representatives and 31 in the Senate during the first session of the 119th Congress.
Lawmakers are scored on a scale of 0% to 100%, with those receiving scores between 80% and 99% designated as Taxpayer Heroes. Members earning a perfect score of 100% receive the organization’s highest designation, Taxpayer Super Hero.
Based on their lifetime ratings, all four endorsed Arizona candidates meet the organization’s criteria for its two highest categories.
Nationwide, 38 House members and four senators earned perfect scores in the 2025 ratings, compared to one representative and one senator in 2024.
An additional 102 House members and 40 senators earned scores between 80% and 99%, qualifying them as Taxpayer Heroes.
At the opposite end of the rankings, 172 representatives and 42 senators received scores of zero percent in 2025.
The ratings also revealed substantial differences in average scores between the parties. Senate Republicans averaged 85%, compared to zero percent among Senate Democrats and Independents. House Republicans averaged 83%, while House Democrats averaged 2%.
The organization reported that Republican averages increased in both chambers compared to 2024, while Democratic averages declined.
CCAGW said its endorsements recognize candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to limiting government spending, opposing additional regulations, and promoting greater accountability in Washington.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has opened a Business Recovery Center in Tusayan, Arizona, to provide in-person assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations seeking federal disaster loans following recent flash flooding at Grand Canyon National Park.
The center, located at Tusayan Town Hall at 845 Mustang Drive, will provide applicants with direct access to SBA representatives who can answer questions, explain eligibility requirements, and assist with the disaster loan application process.
Representatives will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the center permanently closes on Friday, October, 30. Walk-ins are welcome, and applicants can also schedule an in-person appointment.
The opening follows the SBA’s October 13 disaster declaration, which made low-interest federal loans available to eligible businesses and private nonprofit organizations experiencing economic losses from flooding that occurred between August 29 and September 3.
The declaration covers five Arizona counties, including Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai, along with Kane and San Juan Counties in Utah.
Through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations can apply for loans of up to $2 million to help cover operating expenses and other financial obligations resulting from the disaster.
Applicants may qualify for assistance even if their property did not sustain physical damage, provided they experienced qualifying economic losses directly related to the flooding.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), whose district includes Grand Canyon National Park, welcomed the opening of the recovery center and encouraged affected organizations to take advantage of the additional assistance.
“I’m grateful to the U.S. Small Business Administration for putting personnel on the ground to assist small business owners,” stated Rep. Crane. “I encourage Arizonans impacted by this catastrophic disaster to meet with SBA representatives and explore their options.”
Crane also emphasized the ongoing challenges facing Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding communities, pointing to continued recovery efforts and congressional action involving the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025.
“The flash floods are the latest setback in a challenging stretch for Grand Canyon National Park and gateway communities,” added Crane. “My team and I remain committed to doing our part, and I’m hopeful these resources and recent movement on the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025 will deliver lasting results for Northern Arizona.”
The recovery center will remain open through October 30, but eligible businesses and nonprofit organizations have until July 13, 2027, to submit economic injury disaster loan applications.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), introduced legislation aimed at overhauling the nation’s employment-based immigration system to prioritize highly skilled workers, strengthen economic growth, and reduce federal debt.
According to the JEC, the proposed reforms could save the federal government approximately $335 billion and increase U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by at least $549 billion over the next decade.
The legislation would replace the existing H-1B visa program with a more selective system focused on addressing labor shortages in specific industries. It would also restructure employment-based immigration to prioritize applicants based on qualifications, education, experience, and economic contributions rather than application order.
Additional provisions would eliminate country-based visa caps, reduce family-sponsored immigration, redirect diversity lottery visas toward employment-based applicants, and replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program with a system modeled after the Trump Gold Card initiative.
Supporters argue the changes would improve labor market conditions for American workers while allowing businesses to recruit specialized foreign talent in industries experiencing workforce shortages.
The SMARTER Act: Ends mass migration, replaces H-1B visas with a measured, merit-based system that admits only the most valuable applicants; Improves labor market conditions for American workers by reducing excess imported labor; Supports economic growth, technological…
— Joint Economic Committee Republicans (@JECRepublicans) October 20, 2026
“Today in the United States, we have the same number of 18-year-olds as we did almost 20 years ago, while the older population is growing exponentially, creating a demographic shift that shrinks the workforce needed to sustain our long-term financial health,” said Schweikert.
“If we are serious about tackling our debt, growing our economy, and safeguarding our earned federal benefits, we must cultivate a workforce that continues to compete globally at the highest level, supports our domestic industries, and optimizes our nation’s financial viability,” he added.
The proposal follows a March 18 congressional hearing titled Keeping Our Promises: Labor Inflows, Maintaining Competitiveness, and Supporting an Aging Population, which examined the economic implications of immigration and an aging American workforce.
Alongside the legislation, the JEC released an October 19 issue brief titled Young, Talented, and Ready: Pivoting Toward a National Scheme of Points-Based Immigration, outlining how changes to immigration policy could address demographic challenges and improve the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook.
The report highlighted the growing imbalance between younger Americans entering the workforce and older Americans approaching retirement.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans under age 18 accounted for approximately 25% of the population in 2004, compared to 21.5% in 2024.
Meanwhile, the share of Americans aged 65 and older increased from 12.4% to 18% during the same period, highlighting the nation’s aging population and the challenges associated with a changing workforce.
The JEC argues that an aging population, combined with a shrinking share of younger workers, threatens economic productivity and places additional pressure on federal programs and government finances.
The report also points to the nation’s growing debt burden, which has exceeded $40 trillion, with the debt-to-GDP ratio surpassing 120%.
According to the committee, attracting highly skilled immigrants could help increase economic output, generate additional tax revenue, encourage entrepreneurship, and support technological innovation.
The JEC also warned that the United States faces increasing international competition for specialized workers, particularly from countries such as Canada, China, and the United Kingdom.
The report cited Canada’s 2023 Tech Talent Strategy, which attracted 10,000 applicants through a program targeting U.S. H-1B visa holders within 24 hours of opening.
Schweikert argued that reforming the immigration system would help the United States remain competitive while addressing domestic workforce shortages and protecting American workers.
“To address our workforce shortages and elevate American productivity while increasing workers’ value, it is imperative to reform policies to prioritize selective, high-skilled, employment-based visas over family-sponsored or diversity migration,” added Schweikert. “This is truly prioritizing America, as we strengthen our economic prosperity and national security by building the best workforce of the future while expanding opportunities for all Americans.”
The JEC estimates that the SMARTER Act could generate approximately $1.34 trillion in federal savings over 20 years, assuming immigration levels remain consistent with current annual totals.
The legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives but would need to pass both chambers of Congress before being signed into law.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), alongside fellow Republican Congressmen Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) and Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), is urging the U.S. Department of War to explore opportunities to expand domestic copper production on military lands across Arizona.
In an October 19 press release, Biggs announced that the three lawmakers sent a letter dated October 9, 2026, to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, requesting that the department identify opportunities for copper mining, processing, refining, and recycling on approximately 3.12 million acres of defense land under its management in Arizona.
The lawmakers emphasized Arizona’s position as the nation’s leading copper-producing state, accounting for approximately 70% of all copper mined in the United States.
With its extensive mineral deposits, skilled workforce, established infrastructure, and significant military presence, the state is positioned to play a central role in strengthening domestic mineral supply chains and reducing dependence on foreign sources.
“Arizona has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources that are essential to America’s economic prosperity and national security,” stated Congressman Biggs. “For too long, our country has allowed unnecessary barriers and an overreliance on foreign supply chains to undermine our ability to produce the critical materials our military needs.”
“Arizona already leads in copper production, and we have a tremendous opportunity to build on that strength. We should be looking at every responsible avenue to expand domestic production, unleash American industry, and ensure our military has a reliable supply of the resources necessary to defend our citizens and freedoms,” added Biggs.
I'm urging the Department of War to identify opportunities to expand domestic copper mining, processing, refining, and recycling on the approximately 3.12 million acres of defense land under its management in Arizona.
In their letter, the congressmen highlighted copper’s importance to military readiness, noting its widespread use in electrical systems, communications equipment, munitions, aircraft, naval vessels, and military installations.
The lawmakers also cited three executive orders aimed at strengthening domestic mineral production and national security.
These include Executive Order 14220, which identified copper as essential to national security, Executive Order 14241, which directed efforts to accelerate domestic mineral production, and Executive Order 14415, signed July 20, 2026, which established a policy prioritizing domestic and allied sources for critical materials used by the military.
The letter requests that the Department of War identify suitable military lands in Arizona for copper and other critical mineral development while ensuring that any proposed activities remain consistent with military training, testing, and operational readiness requirements.
Additionally, the lawmakers asked the department to evaluate existing federal authorities, programs, partnerships, and investments that could accelerate domestic mineral production and processing, while identifying potential legislative changes Congress could consider.
Biggs, Gosar, and Crane also requested a briefing within 90 days outlining potential development sites, available resources, and any outstanding infrastructure or permitting requirements.
“Arizona has the resources, workforce, infrastructure, and military presence to play a central role in securing America’s copper supply,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge the Department to put these assets to work.”
The congressmen argued that expanding domestic copper production and processing would strengthen the nation’s defense supply chain, create opportunities for American workers, and reduce reliance on foreign mineral suppliers.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
