On Jan. 27, the Trump administration announced a national freeze on federal funding. Later that day, a memo was released by the Office of Management and Budget stating federal grants, loans and financial assistance that covers functions like housing, nutrition and education are excluded from the freeze. However, this memo has since been rescinded. Federal funding in the United States pays for multiple systems that millions of citizens depend on everyday, like Social Security, medicare, highway maintenance, building construction, research, non-profit organizations and education.
According to a PBS News article published by Chris Megerian of the Associated Press, U.S district judge Loren L. AliKhan halted the freeze minutes before the freeze went into effect. Days later on Jan. 31, U.S. federal Judge John McConnell ordered a temporary pause in the Trump administration’s efforts to halt federal funding. While there are many advocates working to ensure individuals, organizations and businesses remain secure amidst the Trump administration’s attempted changes in federal funding, there is still worry surrounding the future of these possible changes.
But why is federal funding for education so important, especially today? What does it mean for you and I as students, or our teachers and families?
In an EducationWeek article published 18 December 2024, by Mark Lieberman, potential consequences of federal funding being reduced or cut is shared. Lieberman writes, “Nearly every school district benefits [to some degree] from federal programs geared toward children who need extra support.” This extra support is geared toward students of low-income families and households [Title I], students with disabilities [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act/IDEA], students learning English as a second language [Title III] and students experiencing homelessness [McKinney-Vento]. Portions of federal funding for programs like IDEA also supports special education teachers. According to Brookings, federal IDEA funding annually grants around $1,000 to $3,500 per special education student–varying by state. With federal funding cuts, not only would certain students of certain states have less funding than students in other states resulting in a loss of important resources for students, but funding and pay for teachers would drastically decrease as well–overall resulting in less teachers and less aid to special education students.
Additionally, The National School Lunch Program is a federally funded program that allows for the students of public and non-profit private schools to access free, reduced and nutritional daily school lunches. If federal funding were to be frozen or cut, this would greatly disrupt schools all over the country, including Adams. According to the U.S. News & World Report, data collected from 2020-2023 academic years show that over 50% of Adams students are economically disadvantaged and receive free or reduced school lunch.
The freeze would also impact college students and professors. Federal student aid from the Department of Education covers expenses such as tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies and transportation. According to CBS News, “The federal funding freeze does not apply to student loans and Pell grants.” However, what would happen if student loans and Pell grants were applicable to the funding freeze? Over 10 million college students receive federal student aid, like grants and loans, and over 17 million students apply and qualify for the 2022-2023 cycle of FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Each of the students that rely on this federal aid will have their education put at risk and disadvantage. If FAFSA and general federal student aid were to be made unavailable to high school students seeking further education, millions of students would be at a disadvantage in enrolling in college–even more so for students of low-income families.
Statistics given by the National Center for Education Statistics show that the average net price of attendance without grant and scholarship aid for first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students attending four year degree programs and granting institutions was $15,200 at public institutions, compared with nearly $30,000 [$29,700] at private non-profit institutions. For so many students and families, the expenses of college without federal aid is unattainable and disadvantageous. A federal funding cut would disrupt and obstruct the education of current college students, high school graduates entering college and current high school students with aspirations that involve further education.
A national freeze on federal funding would drastically change our schools and how they function in the now and in our future. Teachers, students and families that rely on federally funded programs would be stripped of vital support and resources.
