IHEP Statement on President Trump’s FY27 Budget Request
Published Apr 03, 2026
Washington, DC (April 3, 2025) – Today, the Trump Administration released its FY27 budget proposal, which included cuts to critical postsecondary investments. IHEP President & CEO Mamie Voight issued the following statement:
“For the second time this term, President Trump’s budget proposal takes direct aim at programs proven to expand college access, support student success, and strengthen institutions serving students with the greatest need. It also severely cuts the federal data and research infrastructure that policymakers, researchers, and institutional leaders rely on to make informed decisions to improve student outcomes and workforce readiness.
“The FY27 request proposes an alarming 67 percent cut to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)—a devastating reduction that would severely undermine our nation’s capacity to generate rigorous, independent evidence about what works in education. Gutting IES is not a cost-saving measure; it is a direct blow to transparency and progress.
“The proposal also decimates campus-based student aid programs—including Federal Work-Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants—that are targeted to support students with financial need. Cutting these programs will force students to work more, borrow more, or abandon their college goals altogether.
“Equally concerning are cuts to programs that strengthen institutions and drive innovation, including the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, which supports evidence-based initiatives like the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program. The proposal also targets programs that support Minority Serving Institutions, undermining efforts to strengthen the colleges that serve students historically underrepresented in postsecondary settings. These investments are essential to building institutional capacity and improving student outcomes.
“While we welcome continued investment in the Federal Pell Grant and appreciate the Administration’s commitment to avoid cutting the maximum award, this proposal as a whole represents a profound retreat from the federal government’s commitment to educational opportunity. At a time when the nation should be doubling down on investments in students to fortify our economic competitiveness, this budget moves us in the wrong direction. We urge Congressional leaders to reject these harmful cuts and instead make bold, sustained investments in our nation’s students and the programs that help them succeed.”
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