Bryce McKibben
@bmckib.bsky.social
What if we tried making education free? Or even just cheap! Policy
@hope4college.bsky.social
@hope4college.bsky.social
We @hope4college.bsky.social are so excited that our own @markhuelsman.bsky.social will be testifying before the Senate HELP Committee tomorrow at 10AM ET on making college costs more transparent. Tune in live! www.help.senate.gov/hearings/ref...
Reforming Financial Transparency in Higher Education | The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Full Committee Hearing on November 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
www.help.senate.gov
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
We @hope4college.bsky.social are so excited that our own @markhuelsman.bsky.social will be testifying before the Senate HELP Committee tomorrow at 10AM ET on making college costs more transparent. Tune in live! www.help.senate.gov/hearings/ref...
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
October 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
i know everyone wants to talk about health care, but how can you make a govt funding deal when trump is already illegally not following the current deal? he's illegally not doing cancer research, k-12 funding, etc.
unless a deal prevents that, what funding have you actually secured in some deal?
unless a deal prevents that, what funding have you actually secured in some deal?
September 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
i know everyone wants to talk about health care, but how can you make a govt funding deal when trump is already illegally not following the current deal? he's illegally not doing cancer research, k-12 funding, etc.
unless a deal prevents that, what funding have you actually secured in some deal?
unless a deal prevents that, what funding have you actually secured in some deal?
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
NEW: More than 199,000 federal workers have left their jobs or have been forced out by the Trump admin since Jan. 2025, per a new report.
That’s nearly 10% of the entire federal civilian workforce.
“We’re seeing the arson of our government." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
That’s nearly 10% of the entire federal civilian workforce.
“We’re seeing the arson of our government." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
We Now Have An Idea Of How Many Federal Workers Trump Has Pushed Out
“We’re seeing the arson of our government,” warned Max Stier of Partnership for Public Service, which has been tracking people's lost jobs since January.
www.huffpost.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
NEW: More than 199,000 federal workers have left their jobs or have been forced out by the Trump admin since Jan. 2025, per a new report.
That’s nearly 10% of the entire federal civilian workforce.
“We’re seeing the arson of our government." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
That’s nearly 10% of the entire federal civilian workforce.
“We’re seeing the arson of our government." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact
August 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact
Sounds and awful lot like this: bsky.app/profile/bmck...
Republicans added a special bailout for Alaska on *higher ed,* too. The bill says owners of commercial fishing businesses won't have to report assets on the FAFSA like millions of low-income families. Even if their company earns huge profits, they might qualify for Pell Grants.
July 4, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Sounds and awful lot like this: bsky.app/profile/bmck...
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
Congressional Republicans just passed a massive budget bill that will devastate higher education and eviscerate programs that support students’ and families’ basic needs—including food assistance and medical care—in the largest transfer of wealth to the rich in U.S. history.
July 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Congressional Republicans just passed a massive budget bill that will devastate higher education and eviscerate programs that support students’ and families’ basic needs—including food assistance and medical care—in the largest transfer of wealth to the rich in U.S. history.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
House/Senate are set to eliminate Grad PLUS, and put in place loan limits that would dramatically restrict graduate borrowing. Media coverage emphasizes impact this may have on very expensive programs like Medicine and Dentistry, but @peerresearch.bsky.social finds impact will be much(!) broader 1/
July 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
House/Senate are set to eliminate Grad PLUS, and put in place loan limits that would dramatically restrict graduate borrowing. Media coverage emphasizes impact this may have on very expensive programs like Medicine and Dentistry, but @peerresearch.bsky.social finds impact will be much(!) broader 1/
This also hurts everyone by making the FAFSA needlessly more complex. Plenty of private-sector businesses help society (e.g. affordable housing, health care providers, waste management). Doesn't mean we should create a laundry list of sectors that exempt you from normal people's rules.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 PM
This also hurts everyone by making the FAFSA needlessly more complex. Plenty of private-sector businesses help society (e.g. affordable housing, health care providers, waste management). Doesn't mean we should create a laundry list of sectors that exempt you from normal people's rules.
Execs frequently take low "wage" income in exchange for stock options & benefits. So it would be quite easy for a wealthy fisheries family to get student financial aid while owning a company worth millions (or more!). All while we put most students through the FAFSA ringer.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Execs frequently take low "wage" income in exchange for stock options & benefits. So it would be quite easy for a wealthy fisheries family to get student financial aid while owning a company worth millions (or more!). All while we put most students through the FAFSA ringer.
The largest fisheries employ thousands of people. Trident Seafoods has 3,600 employees in Alaska alone. And unlike "small" businesses here, there is no FTE threshold for the fisheries at all.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The largest fisheries employ thousands of people. Trident Seafoods has 3,600 employees in Alaska alone. And unlike "small" businesses here, there is no FTE threshold for the fisheries at all.
Republicans added a special bailout for Alaska on *higher ed,* too. The bill says owners of commercial fishing businesses won't have to report assets on the FAFSA like millions of low-income families. Even if their company earns huge profits, they might qualify for Pell Grants.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Republicans added a special bailout for Alaska on *higher ed,* too. The bill says owners of commercial fishing businesses won't have to report assets on the FAFSA like millions of low-income families. Even if their company earns huge profits, they might qualify for Pell Grants.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
The House Reconciliation Bill—the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—would lead to millions of students opting out of higher ed, causing untold damage to the economy and curtailing opportunity for millions of low and middle-income families.
June 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The House Reconciliation Bill—the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—would lead to millions of students opting out of higher ed, causing untold damage to the economy and curtailing opportunity for millions of low and middle-income families.
Community colleges estimate that 400,000 of their students would lose a Federal Pell Grant under the House-passed reconciliation bill. www.ccdaily.com/2025/05/wash...
Washington Watch: Preserving Pell, front and center - Community College Daily
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has written to the Senate Labor, Health, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee, outlining its position on the higher education provision in the H...
www.ccdaily.com
May 30, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Community colleges estimate that 400,000 of their students would lose a Federal Pell Grant under the House-passed reconciliation bill. www.ccdaily.com/2025/05/wash...
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
In the budget reconciliation bill, House Republicans are trying to cut SNAP by $295 billion. This would cut it in third in what would be by far the largest SNAP cut in history.
This would rip food assistance away from millions of people, including households with children as young as 7 years old.
This would rip food assistance away from millions of people, including households with children as young as 7 years old.
May 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
In the budget reconciliation bill, House Republicans are trying to cut SNAP by $295 billion. This would cut it in third in what would be by far the largest SNAP cut in history.
This would rip food assistance away from millions of people, including households with children as young as 7 years old.
This would rip food assistance away from millions of people, including households with children as young as 7 years old.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
The House Republican Ag bill would take food assistance from parents with kids over 6 & older adults who can’t meet harsh work requirements. Nearly 11M people live in households at risk of losing #SNAP under this provision. State & congressional-district data: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
Expanded Work Requirements in House Republican Bill Would Take Away Food Assistance From Millions: State and Congressional District Estimates | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
One of the harshest cuts in the House Agriculture Committee bill would take food assistance away from people — including, for the first time ever, parents with children over the age of 6 and adults ag...
www.cbpp.org
May 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The House Republican Ag bill would take food assistance from parents with kids over 6 & older adults who can’t meet harsh work requirements. Nearly 11M people live in households at risk of losing #SNAP under this provision. State & congressional-district data: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
There are currently 13 million borrowers in IDR plans. For many, the forgiveness owed to them under *current law* has been on hold due to court orders and slow-walking from the Trump Administration. They may be walked right into a catastrophic tax bill next year and beyond.
May 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
There are currently 13 million borrowers in IDR plans. For many, the forgiveness owed to them under *current law* has been on hold due to court orders and slow-walking from the Trump Administration. They may be walked right into a catastrophic tax bill next year and beyond.
These are borrowers who've paid 20-25+ years, had their schools collapse, or been defrauded, and now they'll face thousands of dollars in new taxes. While the Republican bill narrowly addresses death & disability, it shamefully leaves the vast majority of borrowers worse off.
May 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
These are borrowers who've paid 20-25+ years, had their schools collapse, or been defrauded, and now they'll face thousands of dollars in new taxes. While the Republican bill narrowly addresses death & disability, it shamefully leaves the vast majority of borrowers worse off.
The American Rescue Plan Act removed surprise tax bombs on IDR, closed school discharges, and borrower defense discharges through December 2025. The new Republican tax bill lets that relief expire while pushing trillions for the wealthy. thecollegeinvestor.com/57708/tax-pl...
New House GOP Tax Plan Extends Some Tax-Free Student Loan Forgiveness
Proposed GOP House tax bill extends tax-free loan forgiveness only for death and disability, leaving out other student loan forgiveness programs.
thecollegeinvestor.com
May 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The American Rescue Plan Act removed surprise tax bombs on IDR, closed school discharges, and borrower defense discharges through December 2025. The new Republican tax bill lets that relief expire while pushing trillions for the wealthy. thecollegeinvestor.com/57708/tax-pl...
The Republican tax bill proposes $5 trillion in tax cuts. But one group notably left out in the cold: student loan borrowers (yet again!). The bill sets up a TAX BOMB on income-driven repayment forgiveness and other statutory loan cancellations after this year.
May 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Republican tax bill proposes $5 trillion in tax cuts. But one group notably left out in the cold: student loan borrowers (yet again!). The bill sets up a TAX BOMB on income-driven repayment forgiveness and other statutory loan cancellations after this year.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
Agriculture text is out. Will go through it in this thread.
tl;dr: this'd be the largest SNAP (nutrition assistance, formerly food stamps) cuts in history. It would severely worsen food insecurity in America.
tl;dr: this'd be the largest SNAP (nutrition assistance, formerly food stamps) cuts in history. It would severely worsen food insecurity in America.
May 13, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Agriculture text is out. Will go through it in this thread.
tl;dr: this'd be the largest SNAP (nutrition assistance, formerly food stamps) cuts in history. It would severely worsen food insecurity in America.
tl;dr: this'd be the largest SNAP (nutrition assistance, formerly food stamps) cuts in history. It would severely worsen food insecurity in America.
It appears they just did the same thing for the American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit:
May 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It appears they just did the same thing for the American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit:
Republicans are advancing a plan to slash $350 billion from federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant. Working students, parenting students, and really anyone juggling school, family, and jobs are at risk of losing aid. All to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. hope.temple.edu/statements-a...
The Hope Center Statement on the House Budget Reconciliation Bill Cutting Student Aid
hope.temple.edu
April 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Republicans are advancing a plan to slash $350 billion from federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant. Working students, parenting students, and really anyone juggling school, family, and jobs are at risk of losing aid. All to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. hope.temple.edu/statements-a...
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
Cracks are starting to appear in the federal financial aid apparatus after the Trump administration imposed sweeping staff cuts at the Education Department last month.
College financial aid hit with glitches, delays due to federal staffing cuts
Cracks are starting to appear in the federal financial aid apparatus after the Trump administration imposed sweeping staff cuts at the Education Department last month.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Cracks are starting to appear in the federal financial aid apparatus after the Trump administration imposed sweeping staff cuts at the Education Department last month.
Reposted by Bryce McKibben
On April 14, #SocialSecurity will cut phone service for key tasks, forcing up to 85k more people a week to visit overburdened field offices. Vulnerable groups will face longer waits to get the help they need. www.cbpp.org/research/soc...
April 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
On April 14, #SocialSecurity will cut phone service for key tasks, forcing up to 85k more people a week to visit overburdened field offices. Vulnerable groups will face longer waits to get the help they need. www.cbpp.org/research/soc...