The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) warned that the Pell Grant faces at least a $61 billion shortfall over the next decade even after a one-time $10.5 billion appropriation. CRFB used Congressional Budget Office data to flag a structural imbalance made worse by expanded eligibility under OBBBA and the launch of Workforce Pell, which analysts say could add $2 billion–$6 billion to program costs. CRFB urged lawmakers to consider offsets ranging from redefinitions of enrollment to reallocations across the federal budget, and it recommended tight accountability for Workforce Pell to curb costs. The watchdog said the one-time funding only postpones a fiscal reckoning that will pressure campuses and students if unaddressed. Policy teams on Capitol Hill and in higher-education finance offices will now weigh options that could include eligibility tweaks, spending shifts, or new revenue sources — decisions that will ripple through financial-aid planning, institutional budgets, and student access.