Pell Grants continued during Trump's presidency, but funding and may be able to access rules changed

No, Trump did not stop Pell Grants. The program remained active throughout his administration from 2017 to 2021. However, the maximum grant amount, funding levels, and some may be able to access rules did shift during those years. Understanding what actually changed — and what stayed the same — helps you know whether your own situation was affected.

The Pell Grant program is authorized by Congress, which means only Congress can eliminate it entirely. A president can propose changes through the budget process, but cannot shut down the program unilaterally. What a president can do is request different funding levels, propose rule changes, or direct the Department of Education to enforce existing rules differently.

Key Takeaways

  • Pell Grants remained available throughout Trump's presidency, though the maximum award amount did not increase in most years.
  • The Trump administration proposed several changes to Pell Grant rules, including restrictions on who could receive grants and limits on how long students could receive them.
  • Congress did not pass most of the proposed restrictions, so many rule changes never took effect.
  • If you received a Pell Grant between 2017 and 2021, you were still using the same basic program that existed before and after that period.

What changed with the maximum grant amount

The maximum Pell Grant award is set by Congress each year as part of the federal budget. During the Trump administration, the maximum award remained at $6,195 for the 2017–18 school year and increased to $6,345 for 2020–21. These increases were small and did not keep pace with inflation or rising college costs.

For comparison, the maximum award had increased more substantially in earlier years. The lack of larger increases meant that students who received the maximum grant saw their purchasing power decline slightly over time. However, this was a matter of Congress not appropriating more money, not a Trump administration policy to reduce the program.

Proposed changes that did not become law

The Trump administration's Department of Education proposed several changes to Pell Grant rules through budget requests and regulatory proposals. These included restricting grants to students pursuing degrees in certain fields, limiting how many years a student could receive a grant, and tightening rules around who could receive grants while incarcerated.

Most of these proposals did not pass Congress or were not finalized as regulations. The proposal to restrict grants by field of study, for example, faced strong opposition from both Democrats and Republicans and never advanced. Some proposed changes to incarcerated student access were debated but not implemented during the administration.

Rule changes that did take effect

One significant change that did occur was the reinstatement of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement with stricter enforcement. This rule requires students to maintain a minimum grade point average and make progress toward their degree to keep receiving Pell Grants. The Trump administration directed stricter enforcement of existing SAP rules, which meant some students lost grant funding if they did not meet these standards.

The administration also moved forward with regulations around Pell Grant may be able to access for students with drug convictions. Federal law had long restricted grants for students with certain drug convictions, but the rules around how schools determined may be able to access were clarified and enforced more consistently during this period.

What happened to Pell Grants after Trump left office

When the Biden administration took office in 2021, it proposed and Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which included a one-time increase to the maximum Pell Grant. The maximum award was raised to $6,495 for the 2021–22 school year. Subsequent budgets have continued to increase the maximum award.

The Biden administration also proposed changes to Pell Grant rules, including expanding access for students without a high school diploma and simplifying the process process. These represent a different policy direction but do not erase the fact that Pell Grants operated continuously through the Trump years.

How to learn about changes affected you

If you received a Pell Grant between 2017 and 2021, you can review your award letter from that year to see the maximum amount you were offered. You can also check your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account at studentaid.gov to see a record of all grants you received. Your school's financial aid office can explain why your award amount was what it was in any given year.

If you believe you were denied a Pell Grant or lost funding during this period and want to understand why, contact your school's financial aid office first. They can review your specific situation and explain which rules applied to you. If you have questions about federal policy changes, the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid office also publishes information about rule changes and their effective dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Trump eliminate Pell Grants?

No. Pell Grants continued throughout Trump's presidency. Only Congress can eliminate a federal program, and Congress did not vote to end Pell Grants. The program operated under the same basic structure it had before and after his administration.

Why didn't the maximum Pell Grant amount increase much during those years?

Congress sets the maximum award amount each year through the budget process. During 2017–2021, Congress did not appropriate significantly more funding for Pell Grants, so increases were small. This was a congressional decision, not a Trump administration action to reduce the program.

Did the Trump administration make it harder to get a Pell Grant?

The administration proposed several restrictions but most did not become law. The main change that took effect was stricter enforcement of existing Satisfactory Academic Progress rules, which meant some students who were not maintaining grades or progress lost funding. This affected students already receiving grants more than it affected new applicants.

Can I learn about a rule change affected my Pell Grant award?

Yes. Check your award letter from the year in question and review your FSA account at studentaid.gov. Your school's financial aid office can also explain which rules applied to your specific situation and why your award was the amount it was.