In brief
As the government faces a shutdown, the U.S. Education Department's operations will be severely impacted. While federal financial aid and student loan payments will remain operational, civil rights investigations will cease and no new federal grants will be issued. Approximately 87% of the department's staff are expected to be furloughed, following previous significant cuts under the Trump administration. The agency's role in managing a vast federal student loan portfolio and disbursing funds will continue, but critical functions related to civil rights and new funding initiatives will come to a halt.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department is poised to face significant operational challenges due to the impending government shutdown, as confirmed by department officials. Although crucial financial aid operations, including student loan payments and disbursements of Pell Grants, will continue, several essential functions are expected to cease.About 87% of the department’s workforce will be placed on furlough, leading to the suspension of civil rights investigations and the halt of new federal grants. Investigations into civil rights complaints will stop altogether, impacting students who depend on these protections.The department, which has seen its budget and functions shrink under the Trump administration, has been under pressure to maintain essential services. Even with these ongoing challenges, the department maintains that it will continue to manage a $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio, ensuring that funds flow for college aid and encouraging borrowers to keep up with their payments.Federal student aid, affecting over 9 million students across 5,400 colleges, remains largely unaffected in the immediate future. However, should the shutdown extend beyond a week, the department has promised to revise its response plan to mitigate any substantial impacts on educational institutions.The administration's previous efforts to streamline the Education Department have resulted in significant layoffs and service reductions, prompting concerns regarding its capacity to adequately handle civil rights complaints during this shutdown. With critical functions ceasing, other areas, such as student loan processing and financial aid applications through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will continue, though the looming shutdown raises undeniable alarms about the future of education funding and protection.
