A federal judge ordered the Education Department to reconsider its decision to cancel TRIO grants, finding the agency failed to follow statutory and regulatory requirements, even as Pell‑eligible enrollment rose at many selective institutions participating in the American Talent Initiative. The court ruling requires the department to reexamine cancellations that affected TRIO programming for low‑income and first‑generation students, raising questions about process and statutory compliance. Meanwhile, ATI colleges reported nearly 75,000 Pell students enrolled over the last decade, with transfer students accounting for the largest gains — a trend that underscores the continuing reliance on federal aid to sustain access efforts. The twin developments highlight legal vulnerability around grant management and continued demand for federal student‑aid programs that support equity and upward mobility.