BREAKING: The Department of Education has confirmed that the federal spending pause does *not* affect Pell grants or student loans. You will get the money. Story coming shortly. 1/2
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There's been confusion last night & this morning about aid "received directly" exceptions/language in various places, since grants/loans can/do go straight to the school -- so students benefit *in*directly. ED confirmed to me that *all* loans/grants, direct & indirect, will continue to flow. 2/2
We're talking federal direct student loans here and Pell grants. There is still uncertainty around fellowships for grad students under certain circumstances. Aiming to learn more. Tips welcome at lieber @ nytimes dot com or DM, including internal memos from your school or anywhere, really.
Clarifying here, per reasonable questions, that my source is the Trump political appointee at the education department. Story will reflect this, coming soon.
Thank you. I appreciate your asking and responding. I wish I felt confident they were telling the truth or that its safety extends beyond the moment.
Your helping to provide clarity is indispensable
The fact that American families are having to worry about whether they or their child can continue their education should be blasted by every Democratic politician from here to the moon.
If Democrats can't make hay of this, then we need better Democrats.
Great question, I spaced on asking even though I benefited from that very program. I can't see why this would be different, so assume that is also safe (for now -- I bet it's a target come tax bill time), and I will attempt to confirm.
Can I freeze my student loan payments indefinitely? Need to make sure the money isn't going toward the "woke" agenda, I'll get back to them when my review is complete
Sounds like the administration is talking out of both sides of its mouth depending on what's politically unpopular. Seems like that should be the story. I don't know that they can "confirm" anything, can they?
Thanks for the reporting. My sister works at a college in Fin Aid processing and says there is little/ no guidance coming from DoE or any of the usual channels they rely on for administering federal fin aid policy. Radio silence from feds.
Sounds like it from your reporting. I shared some of your reporting with my sister (and her colleagues at a large Midwestern comprehensive university) because its as much clarity as they are getting from anywhere else right now.
Who decided that based on a badly worded 2-page Heritage/Project 2025-written memo? This makes no sense. It is the definition of "arbitrary and capricious." Have you considered doing some journalism and explaining this to your readers?
99% sure it's fine, confirming and will add to story specifically since parents worry about PLUS as well -- it's all direct loans, and this is a direct loan.
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Your helping to provide clarity is indispensable
If Democrats can't make hay of this, then we need better Democrats.
FOR NOW.
Considering Trump is a pathological sociopath & Russell Vought is controlling the OMB none of this is comforting.