The Trump administration plans to decrease the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,710 for the 2026-27 academic year, marking a significant cut of $1,685 amidst a $2.7 billion shortfall. While overall funding remains unchanged from fiscal year 2024, officials cite increased fraud and congressional mismanagement as key factors contributing to the deficit. The proposal aims to ensure average coverage for community college students. Despite prior moves to boost the Pell Grant, officials stress that sustainable solutions with Congress are necessary to prevent jeopardizing access to education.
The proposed cut, detailed in budget documents released Friday evening, would drop the maximum Pell Grant to $5,710, reversing more than a decade of efforts to steadily boost the award, which helps low-income students attend college.
Officials wrote in the budget docs, 'This chronic mismanagement jeopardizes access to postsecondary education for students and families across the country.'
The administration looks forward to working with Congress to develop a long-term, sustainable solution.
About 30 percent of students receive the Pell Grant each academic year.
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