Education and Labor Departments Launch Joint TRIO Grant Competition

The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor announced the first grant competition under a new Postsecondary Education Partnership, marking a significant shift in how the federal government funds college access and workforce training. The FY2026 competition for Federal TRIO Programs — which serve nearly 800,000 low-income and first-generation college students annually — will be administered through the Department of Labor's GrantSolutions platform rather than Education's traditional grants infrastructure.

A New Interagency Model for Education Grants

This competition represents the operational reality of the administration's ongoing restructuring of the Department of Education. Title I, II, III, and IV programs are migrating to the Department of Labor, while mental health and community school grants shift to HHS and Native American education funding moves to Interior.

The shift to GrantSolutions means applicants familiar with Education's grant application processes will need to navigate a different platform. Organizations that have relied on established relationships with Education's program officers will need to build new connections at Labor.

What TRIO Grantees Should Expect

The competition covers programs including Talent Search, which helps middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for postsecondary education, and potentially other TRIO components focused on Registered Apprenticeships and workforce-aligned training pathways.

The partnership language signals a broader policy direction: federal education grants increasingly tied to employment outcomes and workforce credentials, not just academic enrollment.

Why the Delay Matters

This launch comes after months of uncertainty. As of early March, the Department of Education had still not opened these competitions, leaving hundreds of current TRIO grantees unsure whether their programs would continue. The delayed timeline means compressed application windows — organizations will have less preparation time than in typical grant cycles.

What grant seekers should do now: Current and prospective TRIO grantees should immediately review the competition details on Grants.gov and familiarize themselves with the GrantSolutions platform. Community colleges, universities, and nonprofits serving first-generation students should prepare applications now, as the compressed timeline leaves little room for delay. In-depth coverage of the Education Department restructuring and its impact on grant seekers is available on the Granted blog.