Typically, the back-to-school season means that leading staff who provide federally funded programs for low-income and first-generation college students are in the upper class. But this month, the Trump administration froze hundreds of millions of dollars in three-person grants, creating uncertainty for thousands of plans. Advocates say some are forced to pause.
The colleges and nonprofits have approved awards expected to hear by the end of August, with their federal funding on the way. However, the program manager did not receive a reward notice, but received the so-called “no fee extension”, explaining that although the program could continue to run until the end of the month, they would not receive the reward.
Overall, the Board of Education, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on supporting the three-person program, estimates that the Trump administration has retained about $660 million in assistance for more than 2,000 three-person programs. (Congress allocated $1.1 billion in the trio this fiscal year.)
Due to the freeze, many universities and nonprofits must temporarily turn to online services or close their planned and furloughed employees, COE explained. They said that if the freeze persists, about 650,000 college and high school students will lack important opportunities for academic advice, financial guidance and assistance.
“For many students, the first few weeks of the year will set the trajectory for the entire semester, especially if you are a freshman,” said Kimberly Jones, president of Coe. “This is when you make a critical choice for your course work, try to browse the campus and try to adapt to this new world. If you are on your first day, you need planned guidance to help you browse.”
Jones said the pause was temporary this week. However, the Ministry of Education did not respond immediately Internal Advanced EDFriday’s comment request.
Three people are threatened
Originally founded in the 1960s, Trio consists of seven different programs, each designed to support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and help them overcome barriers to accessing higher education.
Not all three-person plans retain funds. About 1,300 Jones said that awards for certain programs (such as upward constraints on math science, student support services and any general upward binding projects (June 1 start date)) are paid in a timely manner. But that only accounts for 40% of the 3,000-plus three-person program.
Other programs, including upward-bound projects for the September 1 start date, Veterans Upward Boundaries, Education Opportunity Center and Talent Search, are still waiting for checks to log into their accounts.
Policy experts added that the funding for McNair’s After Consequence Achievement Program is a trio service for graduate students and has not been allocated. However, unlike most plans, McNair’s funds don’t expire until September 30. Jones and others said they were very worried that the funds would be frozen, too.
Given that everything around education is unpredictable this year, we cannot make any assumptions. We have to take on the worst case scenario before we take these grants into the hands of voters. ”
-Koy President Kimberly Jones
President Donald Trump has proposed cutting funding for all trios in May, saying the executive lacks the ability to review the program and ensure it does not waste taxpayers’ dollars. But so far, the House and Senate appropriations have retreated, keeping funds intact.
When Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican and longtime three-person advocate, faces a budget hearing in June McMahon acknowledged that “Congress does control the wallet string,” but went on to say she “heartfeltly hopes” to work with lawmakers and “renegotiate” the terms of the plan.
Although advocates hope to eventually restore funds, most of the experts interviewed remain skeptical. For the remaining 18 days until the end of the fiscal year, any unallocated three-person fund may be sent back to the Treasury, never reaching the organization they scheduled to.
The Trump administration attempted to freeze or end other education-related grant programs, including some trio programs, which were cut off in June – officials said: “Contrary to policies that prioritize the department’s merits, equity and education excellence; undermine the well-being of students, which are designed to help or constitute inappropriate use of federal funds.”
Although some of the freezes have been successfully challenged in court, the judicial process needed to win federal aid is slow. Advocates say most universities don’t have such time.
“Given that everything around education is unpredictable this year, we cannot make any assumptions,” Jones said. “Until we take these grants into the hands of voters, we have to take on the worst situation.”
“Cancer” effect
For Summer Bryant, director of the talent search program at Morehead State University in Kentucky, the frozen funds have been “crippled.”
Talent Search is a trio program designed to support middle school and high school students through college preparation. Although the loss of about $1 million did not force Kobe to shut down her plans, it has greatly limited her ability to serve students.
After paying 10 staff members of the program in September, Kobe has $1,000 left, two grants she received last year.
“It may sound like a lot, but when you consider that we serve eight counties and 27 target schools, plus driving costs about 50 cents per mile, and some of our schools are nearly 120 miles apart one way, that’s not much,” she said. “So I had to post a Facebook post informing our students and their guardians that we’ll be suspending all in-person services until we get the grant award.”
Even then, the Morehead Trio program is based on rural Appalachian areas, so broadband access and intermittent connections are also a problem.
“Doing things over the phone or zoom is not as effective as it is in-person – information is lost,” Bryant said. She added that because this freeze is happening for the most intensive season for college applications, “even a month delay can lead to a success or failure moment for many older people,” she added.
It’s not just Kobe who faces these challenges. Of the nine pre-approved three-person grants from Morehead, only four were awarded. The same is happening on campuses across the country.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, Democratic, of Oregon, and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and 32 other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle asked the government to release funds in a letter Wednesday. Overall, they warn that “there will be irreversible damage to our students, families and communities, as many rely on the important programs and services provided by the three-person program.”
They wrote that since its inception in 1964, the trio has trained more than 6 million college graduates, promoting greater civic participation and inspiring local economies.
“The data proves the role of the trio,” the senator stressed. “If students do not receive funding immediately, their futures will be less successful.”
Rep. Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat and three-person alumni, and 53 House members sent similar letters on the same day.
The freeze makes community colleges particularly difficult. David Baime, senior vice president of government relations at the American Association of Community Colleges, said they earned half of all trios.
Baime said he “don’t know” why the department was entrusting funds, adding that while he hoped the federal government would recover, there was “unusual uncertainty.”
Coe et al said the concerns in the three-person program were high among the hard-to-explained few trio grants that were hardly explained earlier this year and the recent decision to cancel all grant funds for minority services.
Despite this, Baime is still placing hope.
“The department has recorded it on record saying that the three-person fund will be allocated in fiscal 2025,” he said. “So, despite the very concerning delays, we remain optimistic.”
