#trio-programs

#trio-programs

More than 100 grants were canceled because the department said they either didn't follow nondiscrimination requirements or align with the Trump administration's anti-DEI agenda. The cancellations represented about 3 percent of all TRIO programs, which served more than over 43,600 students. Colleges that house these programs have also had to lay off staff members and cut services to the underrepresented students that TRIO is designed to serve.

According to a report by the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), minority-serving institution (MSI) programs are unlawful because they award money to colleges and universities based on the percentage of students of a certain race. The report said such programs "effectively [employ] a racial quota by limiting institutional eligibility to schools with a certain racial composition" and should no longer be funded.

More than 10,000 TRIO alumni have urged Congress to reject budget cuts to programs aiding low-income, first-generation students in college access and completion.