U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, recently questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the proposed elimination of TRIO programs and the expansion of Pell Grants for short-term training programs. This discussion took place during a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education.
Senator Collins announced that the Department of Education had released TRIO Upward Bound grants to current recipients in Maine. These grants are designed to help high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for college. The release followed a letter from Senators Collins and Jeanne Shaheen urging Secretary McMahon to release this funding after reports indicated that several Upward Bound programs had not received their promised funds for the upcoming year. This funding will benefit over 180 students in Maine.
During the Q&A session on TRIO elimination, Senator Collins expressed her support for TRIO programs, highlighting their impact on first-generation and low-income students. “From my experience in Maine, I have seen the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students… changed by the TRIO program,” she stated. She also noted that three of her staff members benefited from TRIO.
Secretary McMahon responded by acknowledging the value of these programs but explained that they would not continue in the 2026 budget due to accountability concerns. “What we found is… these programs were negotiated at very tough terms,” she said, emphasizing a lack of ability to assess their effectiveness comprehensively.
Senator Collins suggested reforming and strengthening these programs rather than abolishing them: “I think the answer is to reform and strengthen those programs, fix what’s wrong, and increase accountability—not abolish them.”
The discussion then shifted to Pell Grant expansion with Senator Collins advocating for allowing Pell Grants to fund shorter-term job training programs through legislation she introduced with Senator Tim Kaine called the JOBS Act. She highlighted how such options could be beneficial for individuals seeking certifications without pursuing lengthy degree programs.
Secretary McMahon expressed strong support for this initiative: “I wholeheartedly support these workforce Pell Grant options… Our workforce is definitely not being fulfilled by the proper workers.” She agreed on starting such training in high school leading into apprenticeship programs.
