Maine’s Congressional delegation has sent a letter to the Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging her to reverse the Department of Education’s (DOE) decision to cut funding for two programs that help prepare low-income, first-generation, and veteran college students.
According to reporting from Maine Public, the total value of these grants comes in at about $600,000. The programs are said to have been notified of the cancellation on September 12 of this year.
While six of the University of Maine’s Upward Bound programs have already received their continuation awards, federal funding was cut for the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the River Valley Upward Bound Program at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF).
Although both programs were given five-year grants back in 2022 –set to last through 2027 — the DOE notified them earlier this month that their funding would be coming to an end on September 30th.
Although the text of the letter sent to the programs is not publicly available, WMTW has shared some of the contents.
The provided excerpt indicates that the Trump Administration has moved to eliminate federal funding for these programs because they believe the money will be used to support initiatives that are contrary to their priorities.
For example, the DOE alleges that the application for the funding indicates that it will be using the funds for programming related to “diversity and social justice,” as well as “LGBTQIA+ advocacy.”
“[The] application for funding proposes strategies that include speakers who focus on diversity and social justice for all students; eligibility forms amended to permit gender expression; staff participation in professional development offered by state-wide LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups; and student participation in a state conference for LGBTQIA+ youth,” the department reportedly wrote in their notice to UMF.
The delegation explains in their letter to Secretary McMahon that while the programs have submitted formal Requests for Reconsideration with the DOE, “they have had no choice but to notify students, families, and program personnel of the impending termination.”
“The Department’s decision to terminate funding for these Upward Bound programs is deeply upsetting, and the negative impact on the students enrolled in these two programs cannot be overstated,” the delegation wrote in their letter to the Secretary.
About 60 students are served by the River Valley Upward Bound program, as well as an additional 129 high school students throughout the state. The Veteran Upward Bound Program currently serves 125 veterans, and there is a wait list of eligible individuals also seeking support through the program.
“Upward Bound has proven its effectiveness in the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students who often face barriers to accessing a college education,” the delegation wrote. “We have seen the lives of many young people changed by the TRIO program.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Angus King (I), Rep. Jared Golden (D), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) close their letter by urging the Education Secretary to “use all available
authorities” to allow them to operate with funding from the federal government “in full compliance with the current Administration’s priorities.”
