Illinois higher education funding advocates push for status quo
[April 01, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(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.
[to top of second column]
|
Advocates for Illinois higher education funding held a more than
hour long news conference Monday, urging for the status quo in the
face of President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders.
BlueRoomStream
“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. |
