Democrats Introduce Legislation to Double Pell Grant 

On June 23, 2026, a group of House and Senate Democrats introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026, which would increase the Pell Grant maximum award amount from $7,395 to $15,000 over six years, index it to inflation, and shift the program to mandatory funding in order to protect it from annual budget shortfalls. The bill would also expand eligibility to DREAMers and restore lifetime eligibility to 18 semesters. This legislation comes in response to the significant Pell Grant funding shortfall and its current lack of purchasing power.The maximum award now only covers less than one-third of the cost of attendance at a four-year public institution, down from more than three-quarters when the program was created.