Hernández urges the Department of Education to halt cuts to TRIO programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Pablo José Hernández Rivera has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education demanding transparency and accountability following its June 5th proposal to eliminate funding for Federal TRIO Programs in the FY2026 budget.

“For over 13,000 students in Puerto Rico and more than 880,000 nationwide, TRIO means the difference between dreaming of college and actually graduating from it,” said Rep. Hernández. “Cutting TRIO is a bad budgetary decision and a betrayal of our commitment to equity in education.”

The letter comes on the heels of Rep. Hernández announcing $4.6 million in federal TRIO Student Support Services funds to support low-income, first-generation, and disabled students in Puerto Rico on their road to graduation. The program already assists about 13,000 students on the island, offering tutoring, guidance, and personalized support. Joining Rep. Hernández in sending the letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon were Reps. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Darren Soto (FL-09), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

TRIO Programs, which include Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, and others, are federally-funded initiatives designed to support students from low-income families, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. In Puerto Rico alone, nearly 950 students depend on Upward Bound services each year. The Department’s recent cancellation of three Upward Bound projects has created uncertainty, prompting urgent concern about the future of these vital programs.

“Puerto Rico currently receives nearly $15 million annually for TRIO, which supports our students in pursuing and achieving their academic and career aspirations,” Hernández added. “The idea that we can simply walk away from these students with no plan in place is unacceptable.”

The letter requests a formal response by July 28, 2025.