SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois legislative leaders are worried that the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to terminate over $600 million in teacher training grants. Higher education leaders told reporters in Chicago Monday that this is yet another hit to diversity initiatives at public universities.
FILE – President Donald Trump speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Evan Vucci
Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) said any cuts to federal financial aid will have a serious negative impact on students and their ability to access college education. Ford noted that many Illinois families rely on Pell grants and student loans to make college affordable.
"Over 60% of undergraduates in Illinois receive some form of federal assistance, emphasizing the critical role that these programs play in enabling students to achieve a higher education degree," Ford said.
State leaders said cutting or eliminating this funding could lead to drastic changes in enrollment rates and reverse progress made at Illinois colleges since the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates also said eliminating the U.S. Department of Education could end historic civil rights protections and leave students vulnerable to predatory practices.
The Partnership for College Completion argued now is the time to pass legislation to create an equitable higher education funding formula for Illinois.
"This legislation would transform how Illinois funds its public universities, allocating resources based on student need, institutional mission and capacity, and a shared commitment ensuring that necessary resources flow to all public universities, and that these institutions prioritize closing equity gaps," said Senior Government Affairs Manager Danielle Stanley.
Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) are leading the effort to shake up the funding process for Illinois’ 12 public universities. Yet, sponsors and advocates know Illinois still needs all the help it can get from the federal government.
"Workforce reductions, current federal orders, and budget cuts, whether actual or proposed, threaten to limit the access of all benefits of higher education, particularly for individuals from marginalized backgrounds," said Dr. Carol Sumner, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Northern Illinois University.
Ford said Illinoisans should push their members of Congress to protect higher education investments.
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