Don’t let good news on summer Pell Grants distract from the Trump budget’s damaging higher-ed proposals
“The Trump administration has a funny way of showing support for the Pell Grant program, which helps low-income students afford college. First, in its recently released federal budget proposal, the administration proposes to bring back the year-round Pell Grant program — a popular idea already enacted into law weeks earlier by Congress — by cutting money allocated for the grant. Then, it proposes ‘safeguarding’ Pell by pulling out $3.9 billion from its accumulated surplus. Restoring year-round Pell is to be celebrated – although the credit goes to Congress, not the administration. But don’t let that good news distract from the Trump budget’s deeply damaging proposals that target higher education and student aid — including raiding the Pell surplus.”