What the Future Holds for Federal TRIO Programs

Questions about the future of federal TRIO programs—academic and support services for low-income, first-generation, and disabled students—come up more than almost any other topic on the podcast. We're joined this week by Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, for a conversation about where TRIO stands and what may be ahead. We begin with some speculation on whether or not we're heading toward a partial government shutdown, and the latest on the Department of Education's moves on accreditation.

Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:

Contact Congress to Urge a Broader Professional Degree Definition

2026 Winter Term Pulse Point Survey (PDF)

Appropriations

House Passes FY 2026 Spending Package Preserving Education and Research Funding as Senate Showdown Looms 
ACE | Jan. 26, 2026

ACE, Higher Ed Groups Urge Congress to Safeguard FY 2026 Education Funding 
ACE | Oct. 1, 2025

Letter to Congress on MSI Funding 
ACE | Oct. 3, 2025

Legal Updates

Education Dept. Drops Appeal of Court Order Blocking Anti-DEI Guidance 
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 22, 2026

Higher Ed Groups Back Harvard in Appeal Challenging Trump Proclamation on International Students 
ACE | Jan. 21, 2026

Accreditation

U.S. Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking to Reform and Strengthen America's Higher Education Accreditation System 
Department of Education | Jan. 26, 2026

ED Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules 
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 27, 2026

Comments on the Education Department's Proposed Revisions to the Accreditation Handbook
ACE | Jan. 26, 2026

NACIQI Members Stalemate on Picking New Chair
Republic Report (December 2025)

TRIO

Council for Opportunity in Education and TRIO Programs

COE Trio Advocacy

Congressional Outreach Packet

Federal Court Orders Reconsideration of Canceled TRIO Grants
Inside Higher Ed | Jan . 20, 2026

Trump's DEI Crackdown Closes 120 TRIO Programs
Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 27, 2025

Trump Administration Delays $660M for College Access Programs 
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 12 2025