(The Center Square) – Higher education funding advocates from Illinois used a more than hour-long news conference Monday to urge the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress to keep the status quo for federal funding.
State Rep. La Shwan Ford, D-Chicago, said the message is that higher education funding must be preserved. He said Republicans need to be “called to the carpet.”
“Their constituents need Pell Grants, their constituents still need to have their student loans serviced,” Ford said.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said things like Pell grants and student loans must be better managed.
“The Department of Education has no bank, it is not a bank, it was an inappropriate place to put it, I do believe,” McMahon said. “I do think that it was there because a lot of the cashflow that would come in would be used to fund other programs.”
Trump recently signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and shift funding mechanisms to other federal agencies. The move faces legal challenges from plaintiffs like Illinois’ attorney general.
Other Trump orders say no federal tax dollars for diversity, equity and inclusion, declaring the practice discrimination. Northern Illinois University Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Carol Sumner said they’re working through it.
“In terms of diversity, equity and inclusion, and supporting our students who are undocumented and celebrating who our students are on our campuses, academic freedom and free speech, freedom of expression, those will continue to be values that we will demonstrate,” Sumner said standing alongside Ford Monday.
If Republicans in Congress don’t act and preserve the status quo, Ford said continued litigation will cost taxpayers.
“But I guess it is a zero sum game, you know if we have to take money from our general revenue fund to divert it to fight the case that could reduce other spending powers in higher ed,” Ford said.
A myriad of Trump’s orders face legal challenges in federal court.
