The Trump administration has revoked the Biden-era guidelines that allowed Federal Work Study funds to support political activities on college campuses, shifting the focus of these funds toward providing students with real-world work experience. This move comes as part of a broader effort to align federal educational programs with the administration’s electoral integrity priorities. College campus activities funded by these programs will now be restricted to non-political jobs, according to the updated guidance issued by the Education Department.
Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent clarified in a written statement that the new policy ensures taxpayer money is not used to fund political campaigns, voter registration drives, or campus rallies. Schools will no longer be required to assist in voter registration for ineligible students, such as foreign nationals, which aligns with Trump’s stance on restricting non-citizens from voting in federal elections. The department emphasized that institutions must remind students of federal voting laws, including the illegality of multiple registrations or falsifying registration details.
The updated guidance is part of Trump’s executive order titled ‘Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,’ which has intensified efforts to challenge the use of mail-in voting and voting machines. Trump has pledged to lead a movement to eliminate these methods, calling them ‘controversial’ and a threat to election integrity. A recent statement by Trump highlighted his intention to spearhead this initiative, with plans to issue another executive order before the 2026 midterm elections.
Experts suggest that the policy change could have significant implications for student engagement and campus political activities, potentially affecting the way universities manage their federal funding. The move is also seen as part of a larger strategy to reshape educational policies in line with Trump’s vision for limiting electoral participation from non-citizens and addressing what he perceives as vulnerabilities in the U.S. voting system.