Uncertainty looms as college students shuffle from one class to the next. It comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to scale back the U.S. Department of Education.
At North Carolina State University, students particularly noted worries about the continuity of their federal aid packages and some research programming.
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“[Federal aid] is pretty important for me because I am from a single-mom family,” Timi Ogunleye told WRAL News. “I'm at NC State for a specific program that they don't have in many other colleges in America, so I would prefer that I would hopefully get to stay here.”
“We are a research institution … hopefully, cuts don’t affect that,” another student Chase Edenfield said.
“I think it’s disappointing, especially for professors, but I, firsthand, see a lot of the work they put in,” student Katie Milton said.
Related: What happens in North Carolina if the U.S. Department of Education shuts down?
WRAL News obtained a notice sent out to NC State students dated Jan. 29, 2025:
"NC State community,
"In the past several days, you may have seen news coverage around a pause in federal funds for grants, loans and other financial assistance programs as directed by executive orders and a memorandum from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. While I understand that this action has temporarily been put on hold by a federal judge, I recognize that uncertainty around federal sources of funding may be disruptive to your work and creates anxiety for many in our community.
"I want to reassure you that the university is in close contact with the UNC System Office, state and federal officials, and federal sponsors in order to understand potential impacts and reiterate the essential nature of research to our institution’s mission and vision.
"With that in mind, unless you receive an order or communication from a federal sponsor to stop work, please proceed with it. If you receive other kinds of directives or guidance directly from a sponsoring federal agency, please notify the Office of Research and Innovation.
"The Office of Research and Innovation has also created a resource page to provide guidance to our research community as we learn more. Please refer to this page for updates as we move forward.
"As we receive more information about any potential funding changes and what they mean for our institution, we will share it with you.
"Thank you for all you do."
Before signing the order, the White House clarified that the dismantling of the Department of Education would not affect “critical programs” like Pell grants, student loans and some civil rights laws.
"It's not going to be shut down," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "Pell Grants and student loans will still be run out of the department in Washington, D.C., but the great responsibility of educating our nation's students will return to the states."
WRAL News talked to Tracy Rapp and Rachel Cavenaugh with the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators over the phone.
“…We understand that this is [students’] future, their college at stake…we will do everything we can to keep that that money available for them,” Rapp said.
They say, for now, it’s business as usual. They are also waiting to hear of direct impacts, if any at all.
The idea is to give states more authority over federal programs.
“For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has imposed regulations and compliance costs that often exceed the federal funding states receive. By removing this bureaucracy, we open the door for greater flexibility, innovation, and accountability in education policy—allowing parents, teachers, and local leaders to craft solutions that best serve their communities,” Donald Bryson, president and CEO of the John Locke Foundation, said in a statement.
In mid-February, NC State leaders told college deans, vice provosts and senior vice provosts that the university would implement an immediate "pause on all hiring activities" in response to uncertainty about the federal budget.
Congress will need to give the final approval to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Even though both the House and Senate are Republican-led, it’s not clear if enough of them support this move.