Universities Brace for Funding Cuts as Congress Considers Reconciliation

As Republicans on Capitol Hill look to potentially spend billions on mass deportations, tax cuts and other Trump administration priorities, the House GOP is hunting for ways to save money elsewhere. But some of the slashes they’re suggesting could harm colleges, universities and the students they serve, higher ed advocates say. Potential cuts could include repealing Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, increasing the scope and rate of endowment taxes, requiring colleges to help pay back student loans, and establishing penalties for colleges that violate Jewish students’ civil rights, according to a list released Jan. 17 by Punchbowl News. Higher ed policy experts cautioned that the list is in flux but said it offers a good idea of what’s on the table for potential cuts.