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Higher-education aid continues but the shutdown stalls new grants and investigations, speaker says
Summary
Tom Harnish of the State Higher Education Executive Officers told MEC attendees that forward-funded federal student loans and grants will continue during the government shutdown, but new grant-making, Office for Civil Rights investigations and much Department of Education activity are paused, risking second-order impacts on campuses and state budgets.
Tom Harnish, vice president for government relations at the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), told a Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MEC) plenary that federally funded student loans and grants will continue to be disbursed during the current government shutdown, but many Department of Education activities are paused and staff are largely furloughed.
"This is day 37. This is the longest government shutdown that we've experienced," Harnish said, warning that as shutdowns drag on "the cracks become much more evident." He emphasized that forward-funded federal student loans and grants will continue to be dispersed but that new grant-making is paused and Office for Civil Rights investigations and technical assistance are on hold.
Harnish estimated about 90% of Department of Education employees were under furlough, and he said administrative layoffs that targeted Office of Postsecondary Education staff had been challenged in court. He warned reduced ED capacity could affect the administration of TRIO programs and other federal supports.
The speaker also called attention to potential effects on student nutrition and campus life: "There's over 40,000,000 Americans that are part of SNAP, including 1,100,000 college students," he said, and noted press reports about partial SNAP distributions and pending legal challenges that could affect on-campus access to benefits.
On the appropriations process, Harnish summarized the status in Congress: he said Senate appropriations committee action reflected bipartisan support to roughly level-fund higher-education programs, while other versions (House and presidential budgets) diverge on cuts. He predicted a continuing resolution was the most likely near-term outcome to avoid program interruptions.
What happens next: Harnish encouraged attendees to monitor how a prolonged shutdown could widen operational gaps at ED and affect grant timelines, compliance reviews and program administration. He opened the floor to questions and offered ongoing briefings via a morning email subscription.
