WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the first 100 days of the current Trump administration term, more than 250,000 federal employees have been impacted by job cuts, planned reductions, or buyouts, according to a recent New York Times analysis. Among the most affected agencies is the U.S. Department of Education, which has experienced a 46 percent reduction in staff—approximately 1,380 positions.
The FY 2026 federal budget proposal, released earlier this month, reflects a broader restructuring effort that would significantly downsize the department and shift many of its responsibilities to states or other entities. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the proposal as part of a long-term plan to streamline federal operations and prioritize programs that show measurable outcomes.
“The President’s budget reflects funding levels for an agency that is responsibly winding down,” McMahon said in a statement. “We must reorient taxpayer dollars toward proven programs that generate results for American students.”
The proposed budget calls for a 15.3 percent cut to the Department of Education’s funding, a reduction of approximately $12 billion from the FY 2025 budget of $78.7 billion. Among the programs facing reductions are several that target higher education access and support for nontraditional and low-income students.
Key proposed cuts include:
- An 80% reduction to the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program ($980 million), which provides part-time employment for financially eligible students;
- Elimination of Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grants ($75 million), which help colleges provide campus-based childcare for low-income student parents;
- A $64 million cut to Howard University, the only federally chartered historically Black college or university (HBCU);
- A 35% reduction ($49 million) to the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates cases of discrimination based on race, sex, and disability in schools.
These proposed changes come as student demographics continue to shift. Fewer students today follow the traditional path of completing a four-year degree immediately after high school. Increasingly, college students are older, work while enrolled, and in many cases, are parents.
A policy brief from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies highlights the unique challenges faced by Black student parents, noting that:
- 36% of Black students at community colleges in 2020 were parents;
- 40% of Black women in college are raising children;
- Black single mothers represent 30% of all single-mother undergraduates, and nearly 70% are first-generation college students;
- Black fathers make up 19% of student parents but are less likely to receive childcare assistance than fathers of other racial groups.
Programs like CCAMPIS were created to address these evolving needs. Though the grants have historically served fewer than 4,000 student parents annually, the demand remains much higher. According to data from New America, nearly 1.5 million college students are parents of children under six.
The proposed reduction to the Federal Work-Study program has also drawn attention. By providing students with part-time, often education-related employment, the program helps reduce reliance on loans while supporting academic and community engagement.
Meanwhile, the Pell Grant program remains intact, continuing to support over 6 million low-income students. However, the maximum award of $7,395 for the 2025–2026 academic year is unlikely to cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses at many institutions.
As budget discussions continue, education advocates and policymakers are weighing the long-term implications of these proposed cuts. Supporters of the reductions argue for greater efficiency and local control, while critics express concern about diminished access for underserved students.
The debate underscores a broader national question: how best to align federal education funding with the needs of a changing student population and a competitive global economy.
