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NACAC signed a letter urging Congress to protect students from the projected $2.7 billion funding shortfall in the Pell Grant program. Without immediate action, the Pell Grant program faces financial cuts for the first time in over a decade, which would exacerbate affordability challenges and limit access to higher education. Investing in Pell is critical to ensuring students can pursue the education and training needed for their economic mobility. NACAC remains committed to advocating for robust federal student aid and urges Congress to fully fund the Pell Grant program to support student success and access.

NACAC signed a letter urging the Department of Education to rescind the Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter and to engage with the higher education community on compliance obligations under Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and federal civil rights law. The letter has led to confusion on campuses, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which remain legally permissible when implemented in accordance with federal law. NACAC is committed to fostering inclusive educational environments and seeks to work with the department to ensure clear, legally sound guidance that supports institutional compliance and student success. 

House Republicans released their fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill, which funds student aid programs. In it, both Federal Work-Study and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs are cut in half. This cut of over $1 billion dollars would harm more than 2 million low-income students should this bill be signed into law. Moreover, the Pell Grant faces a $2.7 billion shortfall, further threating aid to millions of students. It’s critical that Congress hear your opposition to these cuts that would increase student debt and make it more difficult for low-income students to attend and succeed in college.

The specter of a dismantling or elimination of the Department of Education hangs heavily over the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s confirmation hearings on President Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, Linda McMahon. NACAC issued a letter to the HELP Committee expressing its opposition to McMahon’s confirmation as “premature and unwarranted” until and unless order is restored to the administration’s unlawful actions toward the Department, including limitations on First Amendment rights through DEI bans, withholding of funding appropriated by Congress, and elimination of programs and resources required by Congress. Take action now to tell your members of Congress not to dismantle the Department of Education.

NACAC signed onto a letter that urges dialogue between the State Department and higher education community on issues ranging from national security to visa issuance. Given prior, harmful Trump administration policies to international student mobility — a NACAC policy priority — the higher education community seeks to work with the administration on understanding the full ramifications of policies that might similarly affect international students. A recent article in The Journal of College Admission explores how admission leaders can help maintain a pipeline of international students during Trump’s presidency.

At the outset of a new Congress and new presidential administration, NACAC distributed a letter to all members of Congress and the president articulating the association’s vision for strengthening postsecondary access. The letter reflects priorities developed by member committees and approved by the board over the past two decades. NACAC is eager to work with legislators interested in these priorities in 2025 and beyond.

NACAC, as a coalition partner with the Committee for Education Funding (CEF), encourages participation in the “Don’t Flunk the Future” Campaign to oppose cuts to education funding. Write directly to members of Congress to encourage them to support education funding.

About the campaign

Drastic cuts to federal education funding proposed in the House of Representatives’ FY2025 appropriations bill are a threat to our future. If enacted, this budget would harm students and potential workers in every community across the country. Ripple effects will include:

• Students: From the youngest pre-K learners to college aspirants to adults training for in-demand jobs, the consequences will be both immediate and life-long, impacting our families, friends, and neighbors.
• Educators: Tens of thousands of teachers, counselors, specialists, and support staff will vanish from our schools and campuses.
• Communities: Millions of children, young people, and adults will be deprived of quality education programs that would allow them to grow into strong, productive, contributing members of our communities, companies, and country.
• Workforce: Millions of prospective skilled workers will become economic castaways, worsening our nation’s workforce shortage and increasing the demands on our nation’s safety net.
• National Strength: Cuts of this magnitude will undermine our economic future and threaten our global competitiveness.

The federal government should be increasing public education funding, not cutting it. Education has been underfunded for years, and usually accounts for less than 2% of the federal budget. Adjusting for inflation, FY2024 Department of Education funding is $16.6 billion below the 2011 level.

The House bill will make it harder for Americans from all walks of life to succeed. From hard-working young adults and teachers to more than 25 million students in virtually all the nation’s public schools districts, the consequences will be dire.