Claflin has eyes on potential federal funding cuts

The status of federal funding for education and other sources remains unclear.

The White House placed a temporary pause on federal spending on Jan. 28. The pause includes federal grants, loans and scholarships, which would affect many college students across the country.

 A federal judge has temporarily blocked the pause.

A memo from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget clarified that “any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause.” These include Social Security, Medicare, SNAP and Pell grants.

Despite established programs being exempt from the pause, the ruling doesn’t exempt new programs from having funds frozen. The Trump administration still has the right to freeze funds if they see fit.

Claflin students have a wide range of opinions on the federal spending pause. Some believe it to be harmful to those who benefit from federal funding while others believe it to be beneficial for the U.S.

Speaking on condition of remaining anonymous, one student said, “I think it’ll be a good thing for the long run. The government has been spending a lot of money and we are $36 trillion in debt. I think they should take this time to go over the budget and allocate our taxpayer dollars.”

Also speaking anonymously, another student said, “The federal spending pause is going to affect those who heavily rely on the federal funding, especially us college students who don’t have the money to pay for school. I’m afraid I won’t be able to complete my last few years of college.”

Claflin President Dwaun J. Warmack has addressed the situation via statements to students via email:

“I understand the uncertainty and concern surrounding recent discussions at the federal level regarding potential budget pauses/cuts and the future of the Department of Education,” Warmack said. “Let me assure everyone that Claflin University remains steadfastly committed to student success.”

Warmack and his staff are working to ensure the safety of students’ education, “monitoring developments in Washington and advocating for continued investment in higher education,” Warmack stated.

He assures that Claflin will “continue to ‘elevate and transform’ to ensure that students receive the high-quality education they deserve.”