Large spending cuts to lessen student aid

If Congress cannot agree on an alternative to reducing federal spending by Friday, $85 billion will be automatically slashed from federally funded programs for the rest of this fiscal year. The potential federal sequester cuts would affect all demographics of New York, and have direct consequences for college students in the state.

Instead of making seemingly severe spending cuts that will hurt New York’s public education systems, environmental advances, crime prevention programs, public health and more, Congress should create a cohesive, concrete plan to spread the reductions in spending over time.

Though this would mean it may take longer to reduce the deficit, it also means much of the progress New York and fellow states have made using these funds will not be lost.

If the cuts begin Friday, college students in New York will experience it most in financial aid and work-study positions. About 4,520 fewer low-income students will be granted federal financial aid, and about 4,150 fewer students will receive work-study positions, according to a Feb. 25 article in The Post-Standard.

Both of these cuts are worrisome, as financial aid and work-study help many students afford their college education.

These dramatic cuts are retrogressive to the plans President Barack Obama spoke of in his inaugural address just last month. Instead of helping more students attend college and eventually better the American economy and society, these cuts will prevent students from attending college.

Obama has proposed a more balanced approach to the across-the-board cuts, in which he aims to combine some spending cuts with tax hikes and limited tax breaks. Though this is a better option than the sequester because it will decrease the effects of the cuts, it could also create issues. If taxes are raised too high, college affordability may be compromised for some families sending students to school.

The federal budget deficit needs to be addressed, but large cuts starting this week are not the most beneficial option for citizens and college students. Voting to extend the deadline may also prove inefficient because needed compromise will only be delayed further. Therefore, creating a plan to make consistent, but not such detrimental, cuts over an extended period of time is the best option.