Congress Curtails Move Expanding Pell Grant Access for Some Students

A provision in the short-term funding bill approved by Congress effectively blocks a recent Education Department move that could have expanded access to federal Pell Grants for some students who are financially dependent on their families. Tensions are high between members of Congress and the department over the implementation of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some lawmakers say the federal agency is doing a poor job of executing the changes in the way Congress intended. Department leaders argue that they are trying to fulfill the law’s goal of providing more financial support to as many students as possible.