A coalition of more than 60 higher‑education and advocacy organizations urged congressional leaders to immediately fund a projected $104 billion shortfall in the Pell Grant program over the next decade (inflation‑adjusted), warning that the gap threatens access for low‑income students. The groups said absent congressional action, program generosity will erode and institutions will face greater enrollment and affordability pressures. Lawmakers now face competing fiscal priorities as they weigh supplemental appropriations. Campus financial‑aid officers should model worst‑case scenarios for yield and retention, while policy teams track bipartisan options to shore up Pell funding or adjust award formulas ahead of enrollment cycles.