Latest news with #federalaid
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Weaponization of SNAP benefits to target undocumented immigrants at heart of lawsuit led by New York's Letitia James
New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of officials from across the country to beat back what it says is the targeting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Members of the coalition say it's the latest attempt by the Trump administration to weaponize federal aid to attack undocumented immigrants. James, along with the attorneys general from California and Michigan, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of officials in 22 states. New Jersey joined on behalf of its more than 824,000 SNAP recipients. "This administration is attempting to use this program as a tool in their cruel and chaotic targeting of immigrants. It is outrageous. It is unacceptable," James said. The suit, which was filed in the Northern District of California, challenges what officials say is a new requirement that low-income families turn over a raft of personal information, including immigration status for the past five years, in order to get benefits. James says it's illegal and is being, "illegally used to hunt down immigrants and their families." The coalition is seeking a court judgment to declare the policy illegal and prevent its enforcement. More than 40 million people nationwide rely on SNAP benefits including 2.9 million in New York. Of those, 1.8 million are in New York City. They received $7.35 billion in assistance last year, with benefits ranging from $292 per month for one person up to $1,756 for a household of eight. Under the program, immigrants who are citizens can receive SNAP benefits and non citizens can apply for SNAP benefits for their children who are born here and have birthright citizenship. Immigrants rights experts say it's another attempt at expanded surveillance. "They're trying to utilize every single federal data base to further their mass family separation and mass deportation agenda -- those who are here lawfully, as well as those who have fallen out of state, to target them for enforcement," said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. Asked about the suit, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice issued a terse, "No comment."
Bloomberg
18-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump to Terminate $327 Million in Massachusetts Transit Funds
The Trump administration is canceling $327 million in federal aid to Massachusetts that had been awarded to partially finance a nearly $2 billion rebuild of a notoriously congested portion of the Massachusetts turnpike in Boston. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act that he signed into law on July 4 ended the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, the funding mechanism under which the state won the award in 2023.
CNN
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Blue states sue Trump administration in bid to undo freeze on billions in public education funds
A slew of Democratic-led states asked a federal court on Monday to lift the Trump administration's freeze on nearly $7 billion in public education money, accusing the Department of Education of unlawfully locking up critical funds Congress set aside to help low-income and immigrant students, among others. The new suit represents the latest clash between states and the federal government over the Trump administration's decision to pause or claw back federal aid. In other cases dating back to the opening weeks of President Donald Trump's second term, federal courts have at times sided against the administration's efforts to freeze federal funds, though the administration scored a key win at the Supreme Court in April. In the case at hand, more than 20 Democratic state attorneys general and two Democratic governors are challenging the administration's decision late last month to pause disbursement of education funds for six programs pending a review of how consistent the programs are with Trump's own priorities. Among the targeted initiatives are ones that help immigrant students attain English proficiency, fund after-school and summer programs, and support the hiring and retention of teachers in low-income areas. The administration's withholding of the funds, the states say in the suit, runs afoul of Congress' decision over the years to provide the federal aid and the government's requirement to spend the money. Historically, the money has been made available to states starting around July 1. 'Defendants' actions now jeopardize these critical programs – the loss of which has irreparably harmed and will irreparably harm the Plaintiff States, their schools, and the students and families they serve,' the suit states. The states and attorneys general are asking a federal court in Rhode Island to rule that the funding freeze is unconstitutional and order the administration to stop implementing its plans. CNN has reached out to the Department of Education for comment on the lawsuit.
CNN
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Blue states sue Trump administration in bid to undo freeze on billions in public education funds
A slew of Democratic-led states asked a federal court on Monday to lift the Trump administration's freeze on nearly $7 billion in public education money, accusing the Department of Education of unlawfully locking up critical funds Congress set aside to help low-income and immigrant students, among others. The new suit represents the latest clash between states and the federal government over the Trump administration's decision to pause or claw back federal aid. In other cases dating back to the opening weeks of President Donald Trump's second term, federal courts have at times sided against the administration's efforts to freeze federal funds, though the administration scored a key win at the Supreme Court in April. In the case at hand, more than 20 Democratic state attorneys general and two Democratic governors are challenging the administration's decision late last month to pause disbursement of education funds for six programs pending a review of how consistent the programs are with Trump's own priorities. Among the targeted initiatives are ones that help immigrant students attain English proficiency, fund after-school and summer programs, and support the hiring and retention of teachers in low-income areas. The administration's withholding of the funds, the states say in the suit, runs afoul of Congress' decision over the years to provide the federal aid and the government's requirement to spend the money. Historically, the money has been made available to states starting around July 1. 'Defendants' actions now jeopardize these critical programs – the loss of which has irreparably harmed and will irreparably harm the Plaintiff States, their schools, and the students and families they serve,' the suit states. The states and attorneys general are asking a federal court in Rhode Island to rule that the funding freeze is unconstitutional and order the administration to stop implementing its plans. CNN has reached out to the Department of Education for comment on the lawsuit.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Impacts Higher Education
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Impacts Higher Education originally appeared on L.A. Mag. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1), a sweeping reconciliation package that touches nearly every facet of federal policy. Among its most consequential components is a comprehensive overhaul of higher education finance, particularly student loans, repayment structures, and federal aid eligibility. Here is a breakdown of how the bill changes the higher education landscape for students, families, and institutions. The bill eliminates subsidized undergraduate Direct Loans, meaning students will now accrue interest during school enrollment. It also ends the Grad PLUS loan program (as of July 1, 2026), which previously allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance. In its place, new federal loan caps are introduced: Master's Degrees: $20,500/year, $100,000 lifetime Law/Medical Degrees: $50,000/year, $200,000 lifetime Parent PLUS Loans: $20,000/year, $65,000 lifetime per child Total federal student borrowing (including undergraduate): capped at $257,500 These caps apply only to federal loans, meaning students who need additional funding may have to turn to private lenders, which typically offer fewer borrower on ACE's dotEDU Live, a higher education podcast hosted by the American Council on Education, warned that these caps fall short of tuition levels in many professional programs, such as law and medicine. This shift may push more students toward private loans and potentially reduce access for lower-income students. The Act consolidates federal repayment plans from seven to two: Standard Repayment Plan: Fixed monthly payments over 10 to 25 years, depending on loan balance Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): An income-driven repayment (IDR) plan requiring 1% to 10% of income for up to 30 years, with a minimum $10 monthly payment Borrowers enrolled in now-discontinued plans (SAVE, PAYE, IBR, ICR) must switch by July 1, 2028, though existing participants may remain in their current plans until then. The law also ends deferment for economic hardship or unemployment for loans issued after July 1, 2027. As part of the transition, the U.S. Department of Education issued a press release announcing that interest accrual under the SAVE plan will resume on August 1, 2025, following a February 2025 injunction by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that found certain provisions unlawful. Borrowers in the SAVE plan are encouraged to explore alternative options, including the existing Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan, until RAP becomes available in July new RAP plan waives unpaid interest for borrowers who make timely monthly payments, helping to avoid negative amortization. However, the 30-year repayment period may result in higher total repayment costs, particularly for lower-income Department resumed collection efforts in May 2025 and will expand enforcement later in the year. Borrowers are encouraged to use the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator and related federal tools to evaluate options and avoid delinquency or default. The bill changes Pell Grant eligibility in two key ways: Tightened income requirements: higher-income families face more scrutiny Ineligibility for fully funded students: those receiving full scholarships are excluded from additional Pell support In parallel, the bill introduces 'Workforce Pell Grants' to cover short-term, high-quality vocational and job training programs previously excluded under Pell Grant eligibility criteria. Here is a section-by-section summary of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. These changes reflect a broader federal policy shift toward supporting skilled labor development alongside traditional academic pathways. Several provisions target colleges and universities directly Endowment Tax: Institutions with high per-student endowments now face a graduated tax starting at 1.4%, up to 8% Reduced Department of Education authority: The bill rolls back rulemaking powers, including those tied to gainful employment metrics Paused : The federal government suspends borrower protections that previously linked institutional eligibility to student debt-to-income outcomes. The bill aims to reduce what lawmakers describe as inefficiencies in higher education spending, including through measures such as taxing large endowments. However, insights from dotEDU suggest these changes may weaken federal oversight of institutions with poor student outcomes, particularly those with low graduation rates or high debt burdens. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact California's higher education landscape across public and private institutions alike. For graduate students at schools such as the University of California system, California State University system, California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Stanford, USC, etc. the elimination of Grad PLUS loans and new federal borrowing caps mean fewer options to fully finance degrees through federal aid. As a result, students may increasingly rely on private loans, which often carry higher interest rates and lack income-based repayment repayment reforms may also shift how California borrowers manage debt. RAP, launching in 2026, simplifies repayment, but it may extend debt timelines, especially for lower-income Californians, many of whom live in regions with high living costs. Changes to Pell Grant eligibility could also affect enrollment dynamics. Students from middle-income families—especially those attending high-tuition private universities—may face new barriers to aid. However, expanded eligibility for Pell-funded short-term training could benefit students at California Community Colleges and vocational more than 2.9 million students in its public colleges and a robust network of private institutions, California's higher education system is positioned to experience broad effects from these federal changes in both student financing and institutional planning. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
