This e-letter asks your congressional representatives in the Senate and the House to strongly oppose the Trump adminstration's plan to dismantle and abolish the U.S. Department of Education, which already has had a major impact on student access to higher education.

The new administration has cut the Education Department's workforce by more than half and has ordered the federal processing of student loans to come under the Small Business Administration. The SBA is expected to reduce its workforce by more than 40%, raising concerns about its ability to effectively manage student loans.

These changes have thrown the mechanism to apply for and receive student loans into chaos, leaving millions of students who depend on student loans to help finance their education in the dark over how loans and student aid will be processed going forward.

This letter also expresses extreme concern over proposals to limit Pell grants and federal student loans to the median cost of attendance, which will leave half of all students with unmet financial need.  It calls on federal representatives to oppose the elimination of the American opportunity tax credit, lifetime learning credit, deduction of interest on student loans, income-driven repayment plans, and grad and parent PLUS loan.

The letter urges New York's congressional delegation to stand up and fight back against these harmful cuts. It also requests that they vote against any budget that contains the cuts.

Thank you for your support!