C&RL News July/August 2021 338

W a s h i n g t o n  H o t l i n eKevin Maher

Kevin Maher is ALA’s deputy director of government 
relations , email: kmaher@alawash.org

FY 2022 POTUS budget boosts higher 
education, academic library opportunities
The Biden administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2022 
budget proposal for Congress, introduced on 
May 28, reflects a stark change in priorities from 
the past four years, when many programs for li-
braries and education were targeted for elimina-
tion. By contrast, the FY 2022 budget proposes 
$102.8 billion in discretionary spending for the 
Department of Education–an increase of $29.8 
billion (41 percent) over FY 2021 levels. 

Largely a messaging document to Congress 
(which makes actual funding level decisions), 
the budget clearly illustrates that elections have 
consequences. The president’s budget for higher 
education includes calls for free community col-
lege as well as increases to student aid programs 
such as Pell Grants, HBCU and Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSI), and other programs. 

Below are some highlights of the administra-
tion’s budget for the higher education community. 
Many of these programs will address student aid 
concerns aiming to increase participation in higher 
ed programs and greater demand for library ser-
vices. Libraries can also advocate for a share of the 
influx of federal funding for institutions in general. 

Pell Grants—The budget proposes an increase 
to the maximum Pell grant of $400 and calls for 
an overall increase to the maximum Pell grant of 
$1,875. This would set the maximum Pell grant 
at $8,370 for the 2022-23 award year. 

Free Community College—The budget pro-
poses $109 billion for a federal/state partnership 
(as well as a federal/tribal partnership) to ensure 
that “first-time students and workers wanting to 
learn new career skills can enroll in a community 
college to earn a degree or credential for free.” The 
budget states that if all states, territories, and tribes 
participate, about 5.5 million students would pay 
$0 in tuition and fees at community colleges. 

Community College Infrastructure—The 
budget proposes $2.4 billion in mandatory 
funding ($12 billion over five years) for grants 
for community college facilities and technology. 
Grants would be made to states, who would be 
responsible for addressing both physical and 
technological infrastructure needs at community 
colleges and to expand access to community col-
leges in “education deserts.” 

MSI Subsidized Tuition—The budget pro-
poses funding to provide two years of subsidized 
tuition for eligible students attending HBCUs, 
HSIs, TCUs, and other MSIs from families earning 
less than $125,000 a year. 

Student Loan Debt and Repayment Pro-
grams—The budget states, “The Administration 
looks forward to working with Congress on 
changes to the Higher Education Act that ease 
the burden of student debt, including through 
improvements to the Income Driven Repayment 
(IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) 
programs.” Although direct funding for PSLF was 
not included in the FY 2022 budget, the current 
administration has made clear its intent to support 
this program outside the budget. 

Librar y Ser vices and Technology Act 
(LSTA)—After four years on the chopping 
block, the administration’s budget calls for LSTA 
funding at $197.4 million, level funding from FY 
2021 levels. The bulk of LSTA funding goes to 
state library administrative agencies but also cre-
ate opportunities for academic librarians through 
competitive grant programs or partnerships with 
public libraries. 

The end of the appropriations cycle is months 
away. Congress is likely to miss the September 30 
“due date” for a new FY budget, and many are already 
expecting one (or more) continuing resolutions will 
be needed to keep the government open beyond the 
current fiscal year. Cultivating relationships and col-
laborating with school leadership will be critical to 
securing funding for academic libraries. 

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