🎓Education Department zeros out TRIO and GEAR UP college access

Community college support provides academic advising, financial aid guidance, and career counseling that enable working-class families to access higher education. Without federal assistance, first-generation students lack institutional knowledge about college systems while facing barriers that middle-class families navigate through cultural capital and family experience.

Technical training in healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades enables economic mobility for families who cannot afford traditional university education. Federal funding supports programs that create electricians, medical technicians, and computer specialists while providing employers with skilled workers needed for economic development and competitiveness.

Community colleges partner with regional employers to provide workforce development that attracts business investment and creates middle-class employment opportunities. Federal support enables communities to develop specialized training programs that match local economic needs while providing residents with career opportunities that support families without requiring expensive four-year degrees.

Community college elimination represents broader debate about federal role in education funding versus individual responsibility for career preparation. Policy changes determine whether higher education remains accessible to working families or becomes privilege available only to those who can afford private financing for skills and credentials needed in modern economy.