Though final FY 26 appropriations legislation was only recently enacted, and the Trump administration has not released its budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY), Congress is at work on FY 27 appropriations. The House Appropriations Committee has asked Representatives to submit programmatic funding requests to the committee by March 27. The corresponding Senate deadline is April 16. Appropriators prioritize these Member requests when making funding decisions. Therefore, it is crucial now for community college officials to urge House members to include our funding priorities among their requests.
Please take a few minutes early this week to contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to include the following community college priorities in their formal requests to the Appropriations Committee:
Appropriations Bill: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
- Fund the Pell Grant Shortfall: After years of funding surpluses, Congress must provide an additional $16.9 billion for the Pell Grant program in FY 27 or cut program costs by reducing the maximum award and/or restricting student eligibility. The shortfall is largely the result of positive changes in the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act that increased grants for many students and extended Pell eligibility to others. However, Congress must now pay the bill for these improvements to the Pell Grant program, to avoid undermining the tremendous benefits of the Simplification Act.
- Increase the Strengthening Community College Training Grant (SCCTG) Program to $75 Million: SCCTG provides community colleges with direct support for expanded workforce training capacity. It is an important aspect of national workforce strategy. The Trump Administration recently announced a new competition that helps colleges prepare for Workforce Pell. Congress expressed strong bipartisan support for SCCTG by including it in the A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which passed the House in 2024. Congress should increase SCCTG funding by $10 million, to $75 million in FY 27.
Appropriations Bill: Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
- Provide $85 Million for the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program: The NSF’s ATE program is a key source of support for the nation’s community colleges. This program focuses on educating highly qualified science and engineering technicians in advanced technology fields. It promotes the improvement of STEM education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels, and in the workforce. The ATE program has been level- funded for several years at $75 million, representing a cut when inflation is factored. Congress should address this loss of purchasing power by providing $85 million in FY 27.
Please email or call your members of Congress ASAP to request their action on behalf of these priorities. Some offices may ask you to fill out a form detailing your request. Please contact the AACC Associate Vice President of Government Relations Jim Hermes with any questions about this key process.