Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee took a critical step to strengthen protections for the Federal TRIO Programs during its markup of the FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (“LHHS”) Appropriations bill. As we shared last week, this legislation includes a $6 million funding increase for TRIO, signaling overwhelming support for our students and our work.
During the markup, Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) offered an amendment to the bill that reiterates the purpose and mission of TRIO and gives specific instructions to the Department of Education regarding the administration of TRIO programs. Specifically, the legislative text:
- Prohibits the use of funds to “alter the fundamental purpose, structure, or implementation of the Federal TRIO Programs”;
- Affirms that TRIO programs “are intended to provide first-generation students and low-income students access to higher education, including four-year institutions of higher education and … the attainment of bachelor’s and graduate degrees”;
- Requires the Administration to “administer [TRIO] programs consistent with prior practice and congressional intent to prevent disruption to grantees, participants, and services”;
- Prevents the Department from shifting funding between individual TRIO programs (e.g., Talent Search, Student Support Services, etc.) by requiring that each program funding level is the same in FY27 as in FY26;
- Instructs the Department to issue new applications for Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) grants by December 1, 2026; and
- Ensures that all TRIO grant award notifications (both new and continuing) are issued no later than May 1, 2027.
The amendment passed unanimously on a bipartisan basis.
In practical terms, this language appears to instruct the Department of Education to launch new competitions for Talent Search and EOC in Fiscal Year 2027. This corresponds with our community’s persistent and continuous calls for the Administration to rescind, revise, and reissue these grant proposals.
I cannot underscore the importance of this achievement. This legislative language, combined with the increase in funding, is a definitive statement of Congress’ steadfast support of the Federal TRIO Programs and the students we serve. This victory is directly attributable to the outstanding work of every TRIO advocate to ensure that legislators understand the life-changing impact of our work on the nation’s first-generation, low-income students.
Many steps remain in the federal funding process, including action by the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is chaired by TRIO Champion and TRIO Caucus Co-Chair Susan Collins (R-ME). However, this is a momentous step towards protecting TRIO’s future.
We strongly urge every TRIO advocate represented by a Member of the House Appropriations Committee to contact their House Representative to express their sincere thanks for this extraordinary action. Such thanks are supremely warranted for Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Appropriations Committee Member and TRIO Caucus Co-Chair Mike Simpson (R-ID), and Appropriations Ranking Committee Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
Contact information for all congressional offices is available here.
As always, thank you for your continuous and arduous support of TRIO programs and students.
Get in Touch
Questions? Contact COE Vice President for Public Policy Diane Shust.
Diane Shust
Vice President, Public Policy [email protected]
Christian Bell
Public Policy Associate
[email protected]