The House Reconciliation Bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would have a disproportionate negative impact on community colleges and the students they serve. During Congress’s budget reconciliation process, the House Education and Workforce Committee recommended major changes to the federal Pell Grant program which awards close to $30 billion annually to more than six million low income students. In addition, President Trump has released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, which would eliminate TRIO programs aiding first-generation college students, federal Work-Study, and other programs that support college access and success.
The changes to the Pell Grant would make it harder to qualify for support by redefining full-time enrollment as 15 credits instead of 12, and eliminating funding for students enrolled less than halftime, or 7.5 credits. This change would have less impact on four-year universities as up to 90% of their students are enrolled full time. Across all fifteen community colleges in Massachusetts, the changes would affect tens of thousands of students, cutting over $80 million in support. The free community college program in Massachusetts relies upon Pell Grants to offset what the state would need to pay for tuition by up to $7,400 per student. The TRIO program is a collection of eight different programs including Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services, all designed to support low-income students, those who are the first in their families to attend college, and students with disabilities would further reduce access to community college. If passed these cuts would have ripple effects directly impacting workforce development strategies, including but not limited to the Massachusetts Career Ladder Program which piggybacks on free community college to upskill Certified Nursing Assistants to Licensed Practical Nurses. Mass Senior Care is very concerned about the proposed cuts to Pell Grants and TRIO as our efforts to grow and advance a pipeline of qualified workers are core to addressing the workforce crisis in long term care.