The Education Department opened a 30‑day public comment period on proposed regulations for Workforce Pell — the program that extends Pell Grants to short‑term, workforce‑aligned training as brief as eight weeks. The draft rule would require governors to consult state workforce boards on program approvals, set performance thresholds (initially 70% graduation and job placement rates), and require programs to align with employer needs and offer stackable credentials. Education Department undersecretary Nicholas Kent framed the proposal as a step to expand affordable pathways tied to state workforce priorities; critics warned enforcement will be difficult amid the department’s staffing cuts. Clarification: Workforce Pell is a statutory expansion of Pell that allows short, workforce‑connected programs to receive federal grant aid if states certify program quality.