CLPCCD Communications
CLPCCD Communications
On May 2, 2025, President Donald Trump released his proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2026. The proposal calls for a 15.3% reduction to U.S. Department of Education discretionary funding, from $78.7 billion in FY 2025 to $66.7 billion in FY 2026. While not final, the proposal outlines significant cuts and eliminations that could impact student aid, workforce training, and institutional support programs across the country.
It is important to emphasize that this federal budget is only a proposal at this point, and part of a months-long negotiation and appropriations process in Congress. The final budget may look very different.
The most notable proposed reductions are highlighted below:
- Federal Work-Study: (-$980 million) Remaining funds would be redirected to institutions serving high numbers of low-income students, with a focus on career-related job placements.
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG): (-$910 million) These are need-based grants for undergraduate students. The proposal calls for the full elimination of SEOG.
- TRIO & Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP): (-$1.579 billion) Both programs seek to help increase college enrollment and success for low-income students. The proposal suggests these programs are no longer needed due to increased college access.
- Adult Education: (-$729 million) A reduction is proposed with a shift in focus to K-12 outcomes and career preparation.
- CCAMPIS (Child Care for Student-Parents): (-$75 million) This program is proposed for elimination and framed as unaffordable and duplicative.
- Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) & Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN): (-$195 million) Reductions are proposed citing concerns over program misuse and funding of DEI initiatives.
- Strengthening Institutions: (-$112 million) This program helps institutions of higher education expand their capacity to serve low-income students. The proposal recommends reductions due to perceived conflict with new federal executive orders limiting DEI efforts.
- Teacher Quality Partnerships: (-$70 million) These federal grants aimed at improving student outcomes and recruiting individuals into the teaching profession are proposed for elimination with the intention to return control over these efforts to states and local districts.
- Job Corps: (-$1.584 billion) President Trump’s proposal calls for the full termination of this career training program due to performance concerns.
- Preschool Development Grants: These grants are designed to improve states’ early childhood systems. The newly released proposal seeks to eliminate this program.
- Office for Civil Rights (OCR): (35% budget reduction) The OCR enforces civil rights laws in schools and ensures equal access to education.
Additional restructuring includes a $1.64 billion cut to Department of Labor workforce grants through a new “Make America Skilled Again” (MASA) framework, shifting resources and decision-making to the state level, with a required investment in apprenticeship programs.
We continue to closely monitor these developments and are working to understand potential implications for our programs, services, and the students we serve. We will continue to engage with legislative representatives, system leadership, and advocacy organizations to communicate the potential impacts and seek to protect critical funding streams our students rely on.
The new federal fiscal year begins on October 1, 2025. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for your unwavering support of students as we navigate these uncertain times and near the end of the academic year.
Sincerely,