Could The Trump Admin’s New Grant Program Disrupt Higher Education?

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A federal grant program tailored towards the trades being adopted across the United States may help reshape higher education as millions of Americans go back to school.

North Carolina became the fifth state to be approved by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for Workforce Pell (WFP) grants Friday, paving the way for more Americans to receive federal funds for pursuing career and technical education (CTE), according to a press release.

WFP’s implementation, which began July 1, 2026, under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act signed July 4, 2026, by President Donald Trump, comes after around 60% of American adults aged between 18-28 surveyed by ResumeTemplates.com in October 2025 reported they have considered pivoting towards the trades as opposed to traditional higher education.

“Workforce Pell is finally a reality after decades of debate—opening new doors for students across the nation,” ED spokesperson Ellen Keast told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “This landmark student aid program is designed to move beyond the outdated college‑for‑all model and expand access to in-demand, workforce‑focused credentials that can be completed quickly and at lower cost.”

Some of the covered CTE programs could help individuals attain employment in as quickly as eight weeks, according to a May press release by ED. (Read more from “Could The Trump Admin’s New Grant Program Disrupt Higher Education?” HERE)