With Workforce Pell slated to extend federal aid to short‑term workforce credentials by July, higher‑education and state leaders raised alarms about readiness. Panelists and state officials outlined five major challenges: cross‑agency coordination, defining and measuring outcomes, heavy data‑reporting requirements, program alignment with labor markets, and uneven institutional capacity. Community colleges—first responders for short‑term credentials—warned that few existing programs meet proposed eligibility and accountability standards. Negotiated rulemaking will reconvene in January to refine operational details, but leaders cautioned that misalignment across governors’ offices, workforce boards and federal agencies could delay program uptake. Provosts, workforce directors and financial‑aid officers should prioritize crosswalks between curricula, labor‑market validation and shared data systems; states that build these connections early will be positioned to scale Workforce Pell slots rapidly once federal guidance finalizes.