‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Nears the Finish Line
Jessica Blake
July 1, 2025
The budget megabill could soon head to the president’s desk, but college lobbyists are still concerned, saying it would be a detrimental overhaul to federal student aid.
The Senate’s sweeping reconciliation bill, which narrowly passed Tuesday after 37 hours of debate, could significantly change how American colleges and universities are run, even with some recent changes designed to soften the blow, higher education experts said.
“Despite all of the headwinds, [Republicans] continue to move this forward and they’re very close to getting [the bill] over the finish line and onto the president’s desk by July 4,” said Jon Fansmith, senior vice president for government relations and national engagement at the American Council on Education. “When you look at the magnitude of what’s in there for higher education, the fact that they’re able to do that is very concerning.”
