The U.S. Department of Education opened a 30-day public comment period on proposed regulations for Workforce Pell, the expansion of Pell Grants to short-term programs as short as eight weeks. The department’s draft rule would require governors and state workforce boards to vet programs for stackability, employer alignment and outcomes; set a 70% graduation threshold and, eventually, a 70% job-placement rate in-field for continued eligibility. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent framed the rule as a step to create “affordable pathways” tied to state workforce needs, while critics—including some Democrats—warn about enforcement capacity amid agency restructuring. The public comment period closes April 8; the rule will shape state approvals, accountability metrics and how colleges and providers design short-term credentials.