For nearly 60 years, the TRIO programs have been a cornerstone of educational opportunity in the United States, expanding access to higher education for over six million Americans.
While the Trump administration overhauls the education system, members of Congress are more vulnerable to influence than we think, said policy leaders at ACE.
The Department of Education manages a $1.47 trillion student loan portfolio as of FY24. Some policy leaders are uncertain whether other federal agencies are prepared to absorb the responsibility.
Institutions will need to seek more partners in the private philanthropic space to help support student financial aid. Income-based loans are one way to maximize contributions, according to these nonprofit leaders.
Harvard University, the University of Washington and the University of Pittsburgh are among the latest institutions of higher education to announce hiring freezes, citing the uncertainty around federal funding.
Food and housing insecurity, among other issues, are imperiling students' chances of earning a credential following the expiration of pandemic-era emergency funding, according to The Hope Center.
Student loans and Pell Grants are safe but Secretary of Education Linda McMahon says she has started the process of shutting down the Department of Education.
