Federally-funded TRIO programs have helped generations of Floridians access college. After several challenges in 2025, the future of the program is uncertain.
TRIO is a collection of federally-funded college access programs that, for more than 60 years, have helped millions of low income and disadvantaged Americans access college and complete their degrees. During 2025, however, TRIO programs faced a variety of hurdles that put their future in question. Still, thanks to TRIO’s successful track record, advocates as well as a bipartisan group of lawmakers have been resolute in their support of these longstanding programs.
As of December 2025, TRIO programs have been level-funded for the current fiscal year, and most programs remain in operation. However, funding for roughly 120 programs was cut, and recent federal staffing and administrative changes are likely to impact TRIO program management in the new year.
Because TRIO serves tens of thousands of Florida students annually, FCAN is watching developments regarding these programs. Below is our review of TRIO-related developments over the past year. To learn more about the TRIO programs, including those in Florida, read our paper titled, “TRIO, Explained.”
In spite of calls to cancel all TRIO programs, Congress level-funds them for the year
The Trump administration’s 2026 budget request proposed cutting all funding for the TRIO programs for the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year—about $1.2 billion total.[i] The rationale for cutting the programs was that “access to college is not the obstacle that it was for students of limited means,” and that TRIO is “a relic of the past.”[ii] However, several lawmakers—including some prominent Republicans—defended the program, and Congress voted to maintain funding for the 2026 fiscal year.[iii]
$660 million in TRIO funding frozen (then released) weeks before the new fiscal year
In September, an estimated $660 million in funds for TRIO grants were frozen, causing some programs to cease services and furlough employees during the busy beginning of the school year.[iv] Grantees that had already been approved for the award had expected to hear by the end of August that the funding was forthcoming. Instead, they received a no cost extension and were told that although the programs could operate through the end of the month, they would not yet receive any award money. After broad pushback, the funds were eventually released.
Funding for roughly 120 new or existing TRIO programs cancelled
About 100 TRIO grants were cancelled or rejected in September, after another 23 programs were cancelled earlier in the year. The emails announcing the programs’ cancellations stated that the grantees’ applications had all referenced diversity, equity and inclusion-related goals or noted that the program was to be housed in the grantee institution’s DEI office.[v]
The Council for Economic Opportunity (the national TRIO advocacy organization), joined by twenty-one states and Washington, D.C., filed suit opposing the cuts, noting in part that the grant process (administered under the prior administration) required a description of how grant funding would expand equity and accessibility.[vi] As of December 4, 2025, the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction is pending.[vii]
Department of Education cuts most TRIO staff and announces plan to shift TRIO grant administration to the Department of Labor
In October, almost all federal staff charged with overseeing the TRIO program were laid off.[viii] The Student Services division of the Office of Postsecondary Education, in which TRIO program administration is housed, was cut from about 40 staffers to two or three.[ix] These layoffs are anticipated to impact the ability to process the 1,000 – 1,200 TRIO applications received yearly, in addition to monitoring active grants.
In November, the U.S. Department of Education announced a series of interagency agreements that included the Postsecondary Education Partnership with the Department of Labor (DOL).[x] According to the Department of Education press release, the partnership will better coordinate postsecondary education and workforce development programs, with DOL taking on a greater role in administering most postsecondary education programs authorized under the Higher Education Act.[xi] Under Department of Education oversight, DOL will manage grant funds, provide technical assistance, and integrate the postsecondary education programs with those that DOL already administers.
FCAN continues to monitor and will report on new developments impacting the TRIO program in the coming year.
References:
[i] Erickson, Bo (October 14, 2025). Exclusive: Trump administrations targets college prep program Republicans defended, sources say. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-administration-targets-college-prep-program-republicans-defended-sources-2025-10-14/
[ii] Vasquez, Michael (August 22, 2025). These programs help poor students with college. Trump wants to pull the funding. Hechinger Report. Retrieved from https://hechingerreport.org/these-federal-programs-help-low-income-students-get-to-and-through-college-trump-wants-to-pull-the-funding/
[iii] U.S. Department of Education Announces Six New Agency Partnerships to Break Up Federal Bureaucracy (press release, November 18, 2025). Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-six-new-agency-partnerships-break-federal-bureaucracy
[iv] Gimborys, Kathryn (September 18, 2025). Washing Watch: FY25 TRIO funding still in flux. Community College Daily. Retrieved from https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/09/washington-watch-fy25-trio-funding-still-in-flux/
[v] Alonso, Johanna (October 27, 2025). Trump’s DEI crackdown closes 120 TRIO programs. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2025/10/27/trumps-dei-crackdown-closes-120-trio-programs
[vi] Hernandez, Rocio (October 29, 2025). States, Including Nevada, call Trump admin’s reduction of college student supports ‘unlawful.” The Nevada Independent. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/states-including-nevada-call-trump-admins-reduction-of-college-student-supports-unlawful
[vii] Council for Opportunity in Education v. U.S. Department of Education,1:25-cv-03514, (U.S. District Court, D.C.). Retrieved from Court Listener, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71506962/council-for-opportunity-in-education-v-us-department-of-education/.
[viii] Erickson, Bo (October 14, 2025).
[ix] Blake, Jessica (October 15, 2025). Trump’s Layoffs Gut Office of Postsecondary Ed. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2025/10/15/trumps-latest-layoffs-gut-office-postsecondary-ed
[x] Jones, Kimberly (November 20, 2025). ED announces major interagency shift: Department of Labor to assume expanded role over TRIO programs. Council for Educational Opportunity. Retrieved from https://coenet.org/news-impact/blog/ed-announces-major-interagency-shift-department-of-labor-to-assume-expanded-role-over-trio-programs/