Negotiations over Workforce Pell are underway as stakeholders hash out eligibility, accountability and rollout mechanics from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A negotiating committee reported progress in early sessions but several technical and oversight issues remain unresolved. Inside Higher Ed’s deep dive warns that implementing OBBBA’s sweeping reforms will require cross‑partisan cooperation, robust data systems, and careful alignment of earnings‑based accountability with new loan and grant changes. Experts note a compressed timeline and Education Department turnover complicate execution, particularly for Workforce Pell programs and repayment-plan changes. Colleges and states should engage actively in rulemaking and readiness planning now — program design, data reporting and compliance thresholds will determine institutional eligibility and federal funding flows in 2026.