The Secretary of Education is seeking comments on proposed regulatory changes impacting the Federal Pell Grant program.
In a Federal Register Notice published on March 9, 2026, the Secretary proposes to amend the Federal Pell Grant program regulations in order to implement changes that were part of the Budget Reconciliation Bill that was signed into law on July 4, 2025.
The primary changes include:
- Pell Grant Ineligibility When Other Aid Covers Full Cost – The Budget Reconciliation Bill does not allow students to receive Pell Grant funds if their non-federal grant or scholarship aid is equal to or exceeds their cost of attendance (COA).
- Workforce Pell Grants – The Budget Reconciliation Bill allows students to receive Pell Grant funds (referred to as “Workforce Pell Grants”) for high-quality, performance-based, short-term programs that support the workforce needs.
A PDF version of the NPRM is also available.
Comments are due on or before April 8 and must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
