Trump Administration Proposes $1,685 Cut to Maximum Pell Grant Amid Budget Shortfall
WASHINGTON, DC — June 2, 2025 The Trump administration has proposed reducing the maximum Pell Grant award by $1,685 for the 2026–27 academic year to address a projected $2.7 billion shortfall in the program. This cut would lower the maximum grant from $7,395 to $5,710, reversing over a decade of incremental increases aimed at supporting low-income students' access to higher education.
The proposed budget maintains overall funding for the Pell Grant program at current levels but introduces stricter eligibility requirements. Students would need to enroll in at least 15 credit hours per semester, up from the current 12, to qualify for the maximum award. Additionally, those taking fewer than six credit hours would become ineligible for any Pell Grant assistance.
These changes are part of a broader fiscal strategy by House Republicans, aiming to reduce federal education spending by $163 billion over the next decade. The legislative package, which includes the Pell Grant modifications, is being advanced through the budget reconciliation process, allowing passage with a simple majority in both chambers of Congress.
Critics argue that the proposed cuts would disproportionately affect low-income and part-time students, potentially forcing many to take on additional debt or abandon their educational pursuits. Community colleges, which serve a significant portion of Pell Grant recipients, express concern that these changes could lead to decreased enrollment and financial instability for their institutions.
The proposal faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where opposition from Democrats and some moderate Republicans could alter or halt its progression.