Trump budget gives half a trillion dollar boost to nation’s trade schools

Artificial intelligence is on the move, advancing quickly into jobs that college graduates heretofore had considered their domain.

But A.I. likely isn’t ever going to haul a hot water heater to a residence and install it. Or paint that siding, or replace an air conditioning unit. Or fix that broken transmission or replace a muffler.

And now those who want to get training in those so essential, but more physical, job pursuits will be getting some help.

In fact, a report at the College Fix outlines how President Donald Trump’s new budget allows $500 billion for trade schools.

The money now is in 529 accounts, special tax-benefited savings accounts that parents often open for their children. Money there until now has been allowed for college expenses, but faced other limits.

The College Fix now reports in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a change that allows 529 savings accounts “to be used to help pay for a broader range of post-high school credentials, like certification in specialties like auto mechanics or food safety, and related expenses.”

“This means the estimated $500 billion in 529 plans can now be used to pay for trade school and even tools in some cases,” the report explained.

One requirement is that the training come from “an accredited program.”

“Higher education consultants interviewed by the NY Times were generally optimistic about the new policy,” the report explained.

Andrea Feirstein explained “The route to a successful career does not have to take you through college.”

The report noted, “It seems plausible the change, once more people learn about it, could lead to an increase in savings in these accounts. This is because parents may have been wary in the past to tie up money in the accounts, fearing their children might not use it if they ended up going to trade school. Now there is more flexibility and a recognition in law that college is not the only way to success, as Feirstein pointed out to the NY Times.”