Eligibility for FAFSA:

https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/eligibility.pdf

TASFA information:

https://www.highered.texas.gov/students-families/tasfa/

Undocumented “FAFSA” assistance:

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/undocumented-students

International “FAFSA” assistance:

https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/resources/financial-aid-for-international-students-usa.php

State Financial Aid Programs:

https://www.nasfaa.org/state_financial_aid_programs

1. State control of biological sex

2. Ending "illegal discrimination" and restoring merit-based hiring practices

3. Regulation of transgender persons in gendered sports

4. Regulating free speech and prohibiting student demonstrations/protests deemed antisemitic

5. Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, as well as permitting detentions and operations in sensitive locations (such as college campuses)

6. Educational initiatives being led by states rather than federally/seeking to dismantle the Department of Education

7. Targeting international students and Visa holders by implementing travel bans and scrutinized processes for obtaining Visas

8. Altering accreditations for universities and prohibiting DEI

9. Revoking Biden's EO regarding equity in HBCUs

10. Altering/severely restricting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (unclear of impact at this time)

11. Ending COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Other EOs have targeted education as a whole/K-12, including teachings of DEI and expertise of AI.

Other types of EOs include state-initiated, such as Texas GA-44 that prohibits student protests that are antisemitic, having institutions adopt the newly recognized definition of antisemitism, and demands for universities to discipline students found in violation of this EO.

This executive order has led to a loss of over 2,000 employees, and a cut in over $600 million in grants.

DOE is described as having six main responsibilities:

1. Distributing Formula Block Grants and Student Funding: The vast majority of federal spending provides grant funding to supplement and enhance the educational experiences of low-income students and students with disabilities.

2. Lending to Students in Postsecondary Education: The federal government is the largest lender for postsecondary education.

3. Overseeing Accountability and Quality Assurance: To receive ESEA Title I funding, states agree to administer annual academic assessments, implement an accountability system.

4. Collecting Data, Conducting Research and Providing Technical Assistance: The Institute of Education Sciences collects national education data, funds education research and oversees technical assistance efforts.

5. Fostering Innovation, Improvement and Student Success: Nearly 5% of the department’s budget, approximately $3.8 billion, is allocated to competitive grant programs that support efforts to improve education outcomes.

6. Enforcing Civil Rights Law: The Office of Civil Rights interprets and enforces civil rights laws in schools, which involves investigating complaints of violations.

The administration claims that the goal of closing the DOE is to return more education power to the states. The Secretary of Education said in Part: “Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them—we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition. 

“With today’s action, we take a significant step forward to give parents and states control over their children’s education. Teachers will be unshackled from burdensome regulations and paperwork, empowering them to get back to teaching basic subjects. Taxpayers will no longer be burdened with tens of billions of dollars of waste on progressive social experiments and obsolete programs." https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/statement-president-trumps-executive-order-return-power-over-education-states-and-local-communities

Implications on the loss of DOE: https://sanford.duke.edu/story/explainer-what-dismantling-department-education-really-means-podcast/

Judge Blocks the closing of DOE: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407521/trump-education-department-layoffs-injunction