The Trump administration has terminated grants for more than a hundred federally funded college-access initiatives, disrupting a network that has long helped disadvantaged students prepare for higher education. This decision has left institutions scrambling to sustain services that have supported thousands of low-income and first-generation learners for decades.
An Unexpected Termination
At the State University of New York (SUNY) Adirondack, staff of the 26-year-old Upward Bound program were taken aback by the cancellation of their federal grant. The Education Department informed the college in mid-September, after the annual program start date, that their application conflicted with the “interests of the current administration.”
The application had aimed to maintain an equal number of male and female participants to address declining male enrollment. Department officials stated this emphasis aligned with the Biden administration’s priorities and was therefore inconsistent with the Trump administration’s stance.
Kate O’Sick, the college’s dean for student affairs, clarified that the intention was to address local needs, not to exclude anyone. She noted that the institution serves an under-resourced area where young men often prioritize immediate employment over further education.
A Widening Impact
These cancellations affected approximately 100 programs in September, according to the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), which advocates for TRIO initiatives. Another 23 had lost funding earlier in the year. While this represents just 3% of all TRIO programs, the decision leaves over 43,000 students without access to vital resources such as academic tutoring, financial aid guidance, and university preparation.
COE president Kimberly Jones indicated that the withdrawn grants often shared a common thread: many referenced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives or were affiliated with DEI offices. In some cases, grants were revoked even when those offices had since been closed.
Political Shift in a Historically Bipartisan Space
The TRIO network, which includes initiatives like Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services, has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. Previous administrations considered these programs essential for social mobility. However, former President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal had already called for TRIO’s elimination.
During a congressional hearing this year, Education Secretary Linda McMahon argued that the department “has no ability to go in and look at the accountability of TRIO programs.” Her comments drew criticism, especially given extensive research demonstrating that TRIO participants are significantly more likely to complete university degrees.
The Education Department has also reduced staffing within the office responsible for administering TRIO grants. Most employees in that unit were dismissed during the recent government shutdown, leaving only a small number of federal workers in place.
Local Programs Forced to Close
At SUNY Plattsburgh, a public university in Plattsburgh, New York, funding cuts brought an end to assistance for 65 secondary-school students preparing their university applications. This program, which also cited gender balance goals, had been a cornerstone of the region’s college-access efforts for decades. Without its workshops and mentoring sessions, many students now face the complex application and financial aid process alone.
One director lamented that school counselors, already overstretched, could not possibly replace the intensive support TRIO had provided. “All that stuff we do hands-on, and it’s not happening,” he stated.
In Massachusetts, Suffolk University’s Veterans Upward Bound program was also cancelled. This had been the state’s sole initiative supporting military veterans returning to higher education. A veteran who participated in the program highlighted that its tutoring and community environment were indispensable for those re-entering classrooms after years away.
Broader Consequences
The timing of these terminations, coinciding with the start of the 2025-26 admissions cycle, has made their effects particularly severe. Jones of COE pointed out that the impact extends beyond high school students to include university students and adult learners. “TRIO programs help these students re-enter the higher education pipeline … a path many of them seek in order to improve their families’ economic futures,” she explained.
Local educators underscore that the loss goes beyond individual students. O’Sick of SUNY Adirondack noted that the program had even inspired participants’ family members to pursue their own studies. In Plattsburgh, alumni of the college’s 60-year-old Upward Bound initiative now include prominent community leaders and the town’s current mayor.
An Uncertain Future
While no further cuts are anticipated this year, COE has warned that the reduction in federal TRIO staff could lead to significant delays and weaker oversight. Jones stated that grantees now receive less support from the Education Department, even as compliance requirements remain stringent.
State leaders, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, have condemned these funding terminations and are actively exploring short-term measures to sustain local access programs. For the thousands of students left in limbo, however, the loss is immediate. What was once an enduring, bipartisan commitment to educational opportunity has, for now, become another casualty of political division.