The Department of Education told stakeholders it plans to begin and then terminate a pilot program expanding Pell grants to workforce training within the same week. The agency’s timeline, reported by Jessica Blake, sparked alarm among higher‑education policy experts who say one week of negotiation is not enough to set meaningful program rules or institutional eligibility. Higher‑education advocates warn that rushed negotiations could leave colleges and training providers without clear payment rules or compliance guidance. Workforce Pell refers to proposals to extend Pell‑style aid to short‑term and noncredit workforce programs; proponents see it as a tool to upskill adults, while critics caution about quality controls and fiscal exposure. Institutions eyeing workforce programs face operational and financial uncertainty if the pilot is deployed and rescinded rapidly. Federal decisions on scope, reporting and disbursement rules will determine whether community colleges and certificate providers can scale programs without exposing students or institutions to audit risk.