[WASHINGTON, DC] – The $1 trillion spending package passed by Congress over the weekend will make several cuts to student aid programs, eliminating access to Pell grants for over 100,000 students next year. While the final spending legislation was less draconian than an earlier version put forth by House Republicans, this compromise bill still makes significant cuts, tightening eligibility standards by reducing the number of years a student can receive Pell grant from nine years to six, even for students already about to hit that maximum.