News and Updates About Federal Financial Aid & the FAFSA: Students | Practitioners
News
Full Statement on Governor’s May Revise
May 15, 2025
By Jaclyn Piñero
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We understand the difficult fiscal reality facing California, with a projected $12 billion budget deficit driven by revenue impacts and national economic pressures. We especially appreciate the Governor’s concerted efforts to mitigate impacts on higher education by reducing the proposed funding cuts to UC and CSU to 3 percent in the May Revise compared to the January budget proposal of a nearly 8 percent cut, all while responsibly balancing the state budget in such a challenging environment.
At the same time, we continue to be concerned about how these funding reductions are translated on the ground by the UC and CSU administration. Left unregulated, these cuts give campuses broad discretion to reduce or eliminate programs, departments, and essential student services—decisions that could have devastating and unequal impacts on students. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to put in place safeguards that prevent disproportionate harm from these budget reductions to any single program.
No single campus program should face a complete cut to its budget, and program cuts above a certain threshold should require explanation to and approval from the Legislature. Furthermore, core student services—such as Basic Needs Centers, Dream Centers, and student retention programs—must be protected. These are not optional programs; they are critical supports that help students stay enrolled, complete their education, and contribute to the state’s future.
Lastly, we are also alarmed by the chilling effect of recent federal financial aid policy changes, which are already beginning to harm students across California, particularly those from mixed-status families. As financial aid becomes harder to access, thousands of students may be forced to delay or abandon their higher education plans. It is for these reasons that we were joined by over a dozen other education organizations in calling for a package of emergency one-time financial aid relief for campuses to support students whom we believe are most vulnerable to being impacted.
California’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity depend on our ability to keep students on track toward college completion. We ask our state leaders to do everything possible to protect that future, and look forward to engaging with the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to move our state forward in that direction.
- Jaclyn Piñero, CEO
At the same time, we continue to be concerned about how these funding reductions are translated on the ground by the UC and CSU administration. Left unregulated, these cuts give campuses broad discretion to reduce or eliminate programs, departments, and essential student services—decisions that could have devastating and unequal impacts on students. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to put in place safeguards that prevent disproportionate harm from these budget reductions to any single program.
No single campus program should face a complete cut to its budget, and program cuts above a certain threshold should require explanation to and approval from the Legislature. Furthermore, core student services—such as Basic Needs Centers, Dream Centers, and student retention programs—must be protected. These are not optional programs; they are critical supports that help students stay enrolled, complete their education, and contribute to the state’s future.
Lastly, we are also alarmed by the chilling effect of recent federal financial aid policy changes, which are already beginning to harm students across California, particularly those from mixed-status families. As financial aid becomes harder to access, thousands of students may be forced to delay or abandon their higher education plans. It is for these reasons that we were joined by over a dozen other education organizations in calling for a package of emergency one-time financial aid relief for campuses to support students whom we believe are most vulnerable to being impacted.
California’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity depend on our ability to keep students on track toward college completion. We ask our state leaders to do everything possible to protect that future, and look forward to engaging with the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to move our state forward in that direction.
- Jaclyn Piñero, CEO