Trump targets Pell Grant money for NASA's budget boost

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Trump targets Pell Grant money for NASA’s budget boost

By JILL COLVIN
May 13, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants to shift money for Pell Grants for college education to fund new spending, including a $1.6 billion bump for NASA to return American astronauts to the moon by 2024.

Under a budget amendment sent to Congress Monday evening, the administration would use an additional $1.9 billion in surplus Pell Grant money to fund other budget priorities, including an infusion of new cash for NASA “so that we can return to Space in a BIG WAY!” President Donald Trump tweeted.

A series of proposed changes reverses some of the most controversial cuts Trump’s administration had proposed, including slashing funding for the Special Olympics. The White House can send such requests, called “rescissions,” to Congress to clawback unspent money the administration views as wasteful or unnecessary. Congress, however, must approve.

Officials insisted the re-allocation of the Pell Grant money would have no impact on those currently receiving grants, which help low-income students pay for college.

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Enrollment in the program has declined since 2011, leading to a surplus of nearly $9 billion, according to the budget office. ...

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Read more: https://apnews.com/bd8bce3a5e1445bc840db227182c2e82

[zeusdogmom]

1. Why is there surplus Pell grant money?

Something doesn't pass the smell test.