Trump Education Dept. ends federal funding of political activism at universities

The Department of Education (ED) announced on Tuesday that it is ending the taxpayer funding of political activism jobs on college campuses.

The department is rescinding the Biden-era guidance that allowed the Federal Work Study (FWS) program, which provides college students with part-time jobs to help fund their education, to be used for jobs at political rallies, voter hotlines, poll workers and other political activism jobs. Institutions should instead “focus FWS funds on jobs that provide real-world work experience instead of political activities.”

“Federal Work Study is meant to provide students opportunities to gain real-world experience that prepares them to succeed in the workforce, not as a way to fund political activism on our college and university campuses,” Nicholas Kent, under secretary of education, said in a statement. “Under President Trump and Secretary McMahon’s leadership, the American taxpayer will no longer fund poll workers, voter hotlines, or political rallies on campus. We will also not require institutions to solicit students to register to vote if they know they are ineligible.”

The announcement from the department also clarified to higher education institutions that the Higher Education Act (HEA), which requires schools “to make a ‘good faith’ effort to distribute voter registration forms to students,” does not require universities to distribute voter registration forms to students whom they know are ineligible to vote.” The clarity is meant to prevent schools from “aiding and abetting voter fraud.”

The new guidance was issued in response to President Donald Trump’s March executive order aimed at protecting the integrity of elections.

The FWS program was not eligible for jobs involving “any partisan or nonpartisan political activity” before 2024. Updated guidance issued under the Biden administration in February of that year declared “voter registration and election administration does not constitute ‘political activity.’”

Universities were often able to take advantage of the Biden administration’s rule to fund roles such as Pennsylvania State University’s (Penn State) Civic Engagement Ambassador, a position meant to “support the registration and education of community voters” while engaging in “anti-racism practices.” The job listing was available before the November election and hosted by the League of Women Voters (LWV), a pro-abortion organization committed to electing “women and those who can become pregnant.”

Democrats often flock to college campuses to promote their campaigns as younger voting bases lean towards the party. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris, during her 2024 presidential bid, focused a significant portion of her campaign on swing state college campuses with the understanding that the student vote — especially in states like Michigan — could move states in her favor.

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