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To our members,
As we concluded yesterday’s productive Legislative Conference in Sacramento, the Trump Administration released an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum calling for a broad halt to spending on federal grants, loans and financial assistance programs. This directive follows last week’s sweeping executive orders addressing DEIA programs, immigration, citizenship, and environmental programs.
This action has created anxiety and uncertainty about the impact on funding, essential programs, communities, and, most importantly, our students.
Hour-to-hour, we are hearing further clarification about the OMB pause order. This morning, the Department of Education confirmed that direct student loans and Pell Grants will not be interrupted despite the broad federal funding pause. We anticipate further guidance from the DOE, but late this afternoon, a U.S. District Court judge paused the freeze on grants and loans.
Nationwide, higher education has strong and vocal partners who are deciphering the impact of this sweeping directive and challenging the legality of these pronouncements. These organizations provide facts-based guidance but emphasize that these federal announcements are disruptive and unnecessary.
American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell: “We call on the Trump administration to rescind the memo issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget. This unprecedented order to pause grants, loans, and other direct federal support is causing great harm to millions of Americans and our nation’s overall economy and security.
This is bad public policy, and it will have a direct impact on the funds that support students and research. The longer this goes on, the greater the damage will be."
Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT): “This news has caused great alarm and confusion across Washington, D.C. and on campuses. ACCT is closely following the developments that stand to affect our member institutions and sharing news as we can confirm it.”
The League will continue to curate and share information and context for issues that impact our colleges/districts and students. We are resolved in the impact of our collective advocacy and will continue to support our members on emerging and essential issues.
In service,
Larry Galizio, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Community College League of California
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