E&W Blog

In case you missed it last week, the Department of Education revoked waivers to colleges and universities in Oregon and California after it was discovered these institutions misspent your taxpayer dollars to benefit illegal aliens. The TRIO programs are taxpayer-funded college preparatory programs designed to expand opportunities and resources for low-income students, first generation college students, or individuals with disabilities. Schools in California and Oregon found a loophole by applying for Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth (P3) waivers and giving TRIO resources to illegal aliens instead.

The Biden-Harris administration approved P3 waivers permitting schools to stretch taxpayer funds thin by diverting funds meant for American students to bankroll illegal immigration. How does fueling our border crisis help disadvantaged American students in special education programs prepare for postsecondary education?

Students in America deserve better.

Lawmakers in Democrat-run states like California have a long rap sheet of funneling taxpayer dollars to illegal aliens. California reportedly funneled billions in federal funding – that’s billions of your tax dollars – to put illegal aliens on Medicaid. And as rents and home prices skyrocket across the state, state lawmakers wanted to send millions to illegal aliens to purchase homes. As the Biden-Harris administration expanded P3 waivers to benefit illegal aliens, it’s clear the Left’s America-last agenda was taking root in every corner of our country.

The previous administration did all of this as its open border policies unleashed a wave of violent crime against innocent Americans. Tens of thousands of illegal aliens charged with sexual assault and homicide penetrated the U.S. homeland. Fentanyl surging across our southern border accounted for more than 70 percent of overdose deaths in 2023. And while the Biden-Harris administration sat on its hands and refused to address the border crisis, it was sending your tax dollars – meant for underserved and disadvantaged students – to fuel this crime wave. Last Congress, Committee Republicans brought public attention to this issue and introduced legislation to address this P3 loophole and protect resources meant for American students. Sadly, these efforts were met by silence by the last administration.

Thankfully, the Trump administration is restoring common sense in America. Under Secretary Linda McMahon, the Department of Education is revoking the Biden-Harris administration’s misguided P3 waivers and restoring opportunities for underserved American students who want to pursue a baccalaureate education. As college costs skyrocket, the chance to pursue postsecondary education seems increasingly out of reach for many students; schools in Democrat-led states shouldn’t make it any harder to achieve that dream by providing services to illegal aliens over Americans. By revoking these waivers and putting these schools on notice, the Trump administration is delivering on its America First promise – and preserving opportunities for America’s students.