ACE, Higher Ed Groups Urge Congress to Safeguard FY 2026 Education Funding

​ACE and more than 60 other higher education associations sent a letter to congressional leaders yesterday urging them to ensure that all funds allocated in the FY 2026 appropriations process are fully spent by the administration as intended by law.

The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, calls for legislative language and other safeguards to provide transparency and prevent executive branch agencies from diverting or withholding funds that Congress has already approved for students and institutions.

"The ultimate goal should be to provide stability, certainty, and transparency as the Office of Management and Budget apportions funds and agencies implement programmatic funding levels approved by Congress," wrote ACE President Ted Mitchell on behalf of the higher education community.

The groups point to ongoing challenges in FY 2025, where colleges and universities have experienced delayed or halted funding for grants and contracts, often without clear explanation. Some agencies, including the Department of Education, have redirected funds to other purposes without congressional approval. These disruptions have harmed institutional operations, undermined student support services, and led to confusion and inequity in the delivery of federal higher education programs.

"Some institutions have had expected continuation grant funds halted mid-project and have often been unable to receive a clear answer as to why," the letter states. "Congress must put an end to these chaotic administrative processes."

The associations warn that allowing this uncertainty to persist into FY 2026 would have wide-ranging negative consequences, including reduced federal investment in workforce development programs, declining enrollment of graduate and postdoctoral students, and disruptions in student success initiatives.

The letter acknowledges the efforts of individual members of Congress who have intervened to restore or expedite funding but emphasizes that such case-by-case fixes are unsustainable. Instead, the letter calls on Congress to act decisively by including directives in all FY 2026 appropriations bills requiring that funding be used as authorized.