Federal budget proposals for fiscal year 2026 threaten to slash education funding crucial to student success, particularly harming Pell Grant recipients and Federal Work-Study participants. Whittier College's president highlights how reductions could reverse gains for low-income and returning students who rely on these supports for degree completion. The cuts also extend to Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and parental loans, imperiling the financial foundations many students depend on. These potential rollbacks arrive amid ongoing legislative uncertainty, casting doubts over congressional funding decisions impacting higher education accessibility.