April 6, 2026

Leading the News this Week

On April 3rd, President Donald Trump unveiled his budget request. Similar to last year, he is proposing a series of funding cuts and eliminations to programs that are critical to community colleges. While the president proposes the budget every year, it is Congress’s job to actually pass the spending bills. Your advocacy with your members of Congress is critical to share the importance of funding these programs.

Read on to learn more about the President's Budget Request and how you can share your voice with Congress.

News in Higher Education

Action Needed by Wednesday, April 8! Join ACCT in a Quick Comment to Make Workforce Pell Proposal Work Sooner and Better for Community Colleges 

Comments on proposed regulations for Workforce Pell Grants, grants for low-income students in short-term programs, are due on April 8th.  ACCT encourages community college leaders, staff, students, and supporters to submit comments on our top three concerns to make the program work sooner and better. Please follow your board's public comment policy and coordinate with the President's office as appropriate. We provided a template comment you can customize with your community college name and easily click to submit to the Department of Education.

**Click here to add your voice! Make Workforce Pell Work sooner and better for community college students!**

These comments reflect our desire that the Department of Education:

1. Implement Workforce Pell Grants ASAP because the law says a program must have “12 months in operation,” not longer;
2. Treat students who complete the short-term program and continue their education as a successful outcome, instead of penalizing them for low earnings; and
3. Clarify the role of the Secretaries of Education and Labor so colleges don’t have to go through burdensome red tape twice.

President Trump's Budget Requests for Cuts to Critical Programs

President Trump released his annual budget request on Friday, April 3rd. The request features a series of funding cuts, eliminations, and consolidations to programs that are critical for community colleges and their students. Here are some highlights of the President's Budget Request.  

• $10.5 billion to help shore up the Pell Grant program, though the shortfall is expected to reach $17 billion for FY27.
• Level fund the maximum Pell Grant award
• Proposed to slash funding for:

  • TRIO (complete elimination)

  • GEAR UP (complete elimination)

  • Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG) (complete elimination)

  • MSI programs (PBIs, HSIs, ANNAPISIs, NASNTIs, ANNHIs) (complete elimination)

  • Title III-A – Strengthening Institutions Program (complete elimination)

  • The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), which funds grants such as Basic Needs Grants and Postsecondary Student Success Grants (complete elimination)

  • Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) (complete elimination)

  • Adult Basic Education (complete elimination)

  • Strengthening Community College Training Grant (SCCTG). Consolidate this and other workforce development programs into a proposed Make America Skilled Again block grant to states. (complete elimination)

  • 90% cut to Federal Work Study. Change the program from colleges paying 25% of student wages to paying 90%.
  • 45% cut to Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE), but only allow the program to be used in middle and high schools, not community colleges.

The President's Budget Request is only a request; it is up to Congress to decide which, if any, parts of this request it will honor through its appropriations process. As such, your advocacy to Members of Congress is vital in protecting these key programs.

For a deep dive into the President's budget request, visit ACCT Now. 

Action Needed! Email Your Two U.S. Senators to Support Pell Grants and Key Funding for Community Colleges!

Thanks to your advocacy, the U.S. House had a record number of both Republican and Democratic signers on letters supporting Pell Grant funding in the annual spending process for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). This will be critical, as the Pell Grant program is facing an expected $17 billion shortfall in FY27, and Congress must provide additional funding to maintain this critical grant for low-income students. See ACCT’s statement on Democrats and Republicans showing support for the Pell Grant in record numbers here.

Now, let's repeat the same results in the U.S. Senate!

**Click here to email your U.S. Senator**

Urge them to support Pell Grants, Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCCTG), Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

For more background, view ACCT's FY27 Appropriations Resources

April 21 is the Senate's funding request deadline for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Click here for a table of deadlines for submitting FY27 requests across the rest of the appropriations subcommittees. Community colleges may also consider advocating for earmarks in other bills for a wide variety of activities.

Here are useful tools to further assist in the appropriations process. 

• ACCT's FY 2027 Earmarks and Funding Request Tutorial and Slides (Member Restricted)
• ACCT's FY 2025 Earmarks Webinar and Slides (Member Restricted)

Grant Opportunities

Please review the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Community College webpage for other grants community colleges are eligible for. These below are the top highlights:

TRIO Talent Search Program Grant

Institutions of higher education, such as community colleges, non-profits, and – with new emphasis in the FY26 funding cycle, state governments -- leverage the Talent Search Program to assist K-12 students from a disadvantaged background pursue and succeed in postsecondary education and job training opportunities. New this year: state agency applicants can earn 5 competitive preference points and larger awards. The program also focuses more this year on workforce development. The closing date for this grant competition is May 1, 20226 11:59 PM ET.

TRIO Education Opportunity Centers Program (EOC)

DOL, on behalf of the Department of Education, announced the grant competition for the TRIO Education Opportunity Centers (EOC) program. This program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. The EOC program also guides participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and assists in the application process. New this year: state agency applicants can earn 5 competitive preference points and larger awards. The program also focuses more this year on workforce development. The closing date for this grant opportunity is May 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Strengthening Community College Training Grants

In this 6th round, the objective of  the Strengthening Community College Training Grant (SCCTG) competition is to fund community colleges aiming to build "program and system capacity for implementing and scaling access to short-term training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants—i.e., promoting industry-driven strategies, worker mobility, and integration with the larger state workforce system (e.g., Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners) for statewide impact." The closing date for this grant opportunity is May 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

• April 8 Public Comment Period Closes for AHEAD (Workforce Pell)
• April 14 FAFSA Form 2027-28 comment period closes
• May 1, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• May 1, 11:59 PM ET TRIO Talent Search Program Grant Closes
• May 14, 11:59 PM ET TRIO Education Opportunity Centers Program Grant Closes
• May 20, 11:59 PM ET. Strengthening Community College Training Grant Closes
• June 5, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• July 10, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• August 7, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• September 4, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live 
• October 21-24 ACCT Leadership Congress
• November 6, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live 
• December 4, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live

Outreach Efforts

Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?

We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC. 

ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:

Would you Like a Federal Update Session for Your Team?

Both this new presidential administration and new Congress have brought with them a flurry of developments in the federal landscape that can make keeping up a monumental task. ACCT's Government Relations team is here to help by offering a 45-minute to an-hour federal update session to community college leadership teams who are ACCT members. To request a session, fill out this form and please email publicpolicy@acct.org with any questions.

Have a Question?

Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.

If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy

Spread the Word.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here. 

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