U.S. proposals to reduce federal work‑study funding have prompted warnings from campus leaders that the program—subsidizing nearly 700,000 student jobs and roughly $1 billion in annual support—would be undermined, jeopardizing students who rely on campus employment to afford tuition and living costs. Advocates note the program historically enjoys bipartisan support and that cuts would strain financial‑aid offices and students' ability to stay enrolled. Across the Atlantic, leaders at the University of Manchester publicly criticized a proposed 6 percent levy on international tuition, saying the surcharge would damage the UK higher‑education sector’s competitiveness and deter overseas students, who are a major revenue source. University presidents and sector groups warned the fee could prompt enrollment declines and wider economic spillovers. Clarification: Federal work‑study subsidizes student wages for campus and community jobs; a reduction would shift costs to institutions or students directly.