The disbursement of federal student loans, Pell Grants and other funds outlined by the Federal Title IV, Higher Education Act will not be impacted by a freeze placed on the disbursement of other federal loans and grants, according to an email sent to students on Tuesday evening from Bryson Davis, WKU director of student financial assistance. G.I. Bill disbursements will also remain unimpacted by the pause.
The email comes after a memo was leaked Monday evening from the White House Office of Management and Budget outlining a temporary pause of the disbursement of these federal funds. The pause sought to review funding to ensure that disbursement must comply with President Donald Trumpโs recent executive orders.
According to the Associated Press, โโthe memo seeks to end the use of federal funds โto advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies,โ writing that these policies are โa waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.โ The memo was written by Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Davis wrote in his email that the U.S. Department of Education advised that the pause would not impact federal student loans and Pell Grants. Additionally, guidance regarding G.I. Bill disbursements came from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
โRegardless of the funding landscape, WKU prioritizes supporting student success, academic excellence and community engagement,โ WKU spokesperson Jace Lux said in a statement. โWe will provide updates as more information becomes available.โ
Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on X @pricewilborn.
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