NASFAA Statement on President Trump's 2019 Budget Proposal

February 12, 2018 — The Trump administration today released its fiscal year 2019 budget request, which proposes a $3.8 billion cut to Department of Education programs. While that amounts to a 5.6 percent decrease compared to what was enacted in fiscal year (FY) 2017, an addendum released alongside the budget proposes restoring $3.3 billion over two years. The budget also proposes eliminating the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Program, eliminating subsidized student loans and public service loan forgiveness, limiting eligibility for the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program solely to undergraduates, and requests $500 million in funding for FWS— a nearly 50 percent cut to current funding levels. The proposed cuts would not be reinvested into new or existing student aid programs.

“The only relief that comes from reviewing the president’s proposed cuts to higher education comes from the fact that it is so easily dismissed,” said NASFAA President Justin Draeger. “Attempting to balance the budget on the backs of college students is profoundly short-sighted, if not downright destructive. We call on Congress to continue to adequately fund the student aid programs and move forward with thoughtful, deliberative, and reasonable proposals for student aid reform and investment.”

To request an interview with a NASFAA spokesperson on President Trump's budget proposal or NASFAA's policy priorities for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, please email [email protected] or call (202) 785-6959.

About NASFAA
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 20,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, DC, NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit www.nasfaa.org.

Publication Date: 2/12/2018


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