Austin Slaughter
@austinslaughter.bsky.social
Higher ed researcher at a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization focused on economic mobility. East Texan.
Pecan pie doesn't have to be this way, folks
You can make it with less sugar / corn syrup and more pecans, and I promise you will enjoy it more
You can make it with less sugar / corn syrup and more pecans, and I promise you will enjoy it more
I think Pecan Pie is one of those things that is divisive now because it’s just a blob of sugar with nuts on it but to someone 150 years ago who ate shoes it was probably like having 12 orgasms at once
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Pecan pie doesn't have to be this way, folks
You can make it with less sugar / corn syrup and more pecans, and I promise you will enjoy it more
You can make it with less sugar / corn syrup and more pecans, and I promise you will enjoy it more
There are a few MAGA guys at my co-working space who used to talk about Trump on a daily basis during the 2024 election and early in his administration
I haven't heard them mention his name in at least four months
I haven't heard them mention his name in at least four months
the neighbor in south whose house has been a berserk shrine to Trump for close to ten years has removed all the signs, banners, etc (left up the more general pro-USA type stuff) — using this as an indicator
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
There are a few MAGA guys at my co-working space who used to talk about Trump on a daily basis during the 2024 election and early in his administration
I haven't heard them mention his name in at least four months
I haven't heard them mention his name in at least four months
Never thought I would see higher ed negotiated rulemaking in The Onion!
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby — theonion.com/white-house-...
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby
WASHINGTON—Describing the practice as a “fun little side project” rather than an occupation, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced Monday that nursing would be reclassified as a hobby under new ...
theonion.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Never thought I would see higher ed negotiated rulemaking in The Onion!
So, uh, the whole thing about nursing not making the professional degree cut seems to have broken through
November 23, 2025 at 3:39 AM
So, uh, the whole thing about nursing not making the professional degree cut seems to have broken through
Please share this opportunity with any grad students or early-career scholars interested in rural higher education
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
National Rural Higher Education Research Center | MDRC
Funded by the U.S.
www.mdrc.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Please share this opportunity with any grad students or early-career scholars interested in rural higher education
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
1/ Today the Department of Education said that it’s transferring a variety of programs to other agencies, making good on Trump’s promise to dismantle ED.
The most important thing to understand is that this is a Potemkin reorganization. It’s fugazi, it’s fairy dust. It’s not real.
The most important thing to understand is that this is a Potemkin reorganization. It’s fugazi, it’s fairy dust. It’s not real.
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
1/ Today the Department of Education said that it’s transferring a variety of programs to other agencies, making good on Trump’s promise to dismantle ED.
The most important thing to understand is that this is a Potemkin reorganization. It’s fugazi, it’s fairy dust. It’s not real.
The most important thing to understand is that this is a Potemkin reorganization. It’s fugazi, it’s fairy dust. It’s not real.
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
As promised, here's more coverage from @insidehighered.com. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
McMahon Says “Clock Is Ticking” on Education Department
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
www.insidehighered.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
As promised, here's more coverage from @insidehighered.com. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
Focusing on my little corner of the world: I don't have strong feelings on whether IES would function better within ED or another agency
But I do think there needs to at least be *some* purported benefit to moving it that would justify the several years of turmoil it will cause
But I do think there needs to at least be *some* purported benefit to moving it that would justify the several years of turmoil it will cause
"The Education Department plans to announce Tuesday that it will move multiple parts of the agency to other federal departments, an unprecedented and unilateral effort to dismantle an agency created by Congress..."
Trump administration to announce dismantling of much of Education Dept.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March seeking to close the department, but only Congress has the power to do that.
wapo.st
November 18, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Focusing on my little corner of the world: I don't have strong feelings on whether IES would function better within ED or another agency
But I do think there needs to at least be *some* purported benefit to moving it that would justify the several years of turmoil it will cause
But I do think there needs to at least be *some* purported benefit to moving it that would justify the several years of turmoil it will cause
The administration says ED is bad
They also claim all the functions of ED will be preserved in other departments
So are they lying about preserving ED's functions, or do they think their voters will be happy with simply ending ED in name only?
They also claim all the functions of ED will be preserved in other departments
So are they lying about preserving ED's functions, or do they think their voters will be happy with simply ending ED in name only?
@insidehighered.com has received multiple tips that the Department of Education will be signing a number of interagency agreements later today. The agreements would move the responsibilities of key offices to other departments.
Stay tuned for more coverage.
Stay tuned for more coverage.
The clock is ticking...
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The administration says ED is bad
They also claim all the functions of ED will be preserved in other departments
So are they lying about preserving ED's functions, or do they think their voters will be happy with simply ending ED in name only?
They also claim all the functions of ED will be preserved in other departments
So are they lying about preserving ED's functions, or do they think their voters will be happy with simply ending ED in name only?
Did Congress forget there are 31 days in January?
The deal extends funding through January 30, leaving the federal government on a path to keep adding about $1.8 trillion a year to its $38 trillion in debt
November 13, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Did Congress forget there are 31 days in January?
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
Popular discourse attributes falling college enrollments to the rising cost of four-year college.
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
Is college enrollment plummeting?
Reports of the death of the bachelor’s degree have been greatly exaggerated.
www.chalkbeat.org
November 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Popular discourse attributes falling college enrollments to the rising cost of four-year college.
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
ED will let students take out $200k of federal loans for a chiropractic or theology degree with average earnings of ~$60k but only $100k for a nursing or business degree with earnings over $120k
I took a quick look at the debt and earnings levels of programs that the negotiated rulemaking committee deemed "professional," as well as other large doctoral programs that were excluded (in spite of having better debt-to-earnings ratios).
robertkelchen.com/2025/11/10/e...
robertkelchen.com/2025/11/10/e...
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
ED will let students take out $200k of federal loans for a chiropractic or theology degree with average earnings of ~$60k but only $100k for a nursing or business degree with earnings over $120k
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
It might seem that the federal education stats agency could easily be transferred to another cabinet dept if ED is closed. But not so straightforward. Why a move could degrade the quality of higher ed data. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Advocates warn of risks to higher ed data if Education Department is shuttered
But new hires and fresh research grants hint at a quiet rebuilding effort
hechingerreport.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It might seem that the federal education stats agency could easily be transferred to another cabinet dept if ED is closed. But not so straightforward. Why a move could degrade the quality of higher ed data. hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
The parking lot of my auto shop has some egregious potholes, and I think this is what you would call a "conflict of interest"
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The parking lot of my auto shop has some egregious potholes, and I think this is what you would call a "conflict of interest"
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
"Ninety-five percent of the department’s employees who don’t work on federal student aid have been furloughed."
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Under McMahon, ED Is Diminished but Not Dead, Experts Say
Inside Higher Ed spoke with more than a dozen politicians, higher education experts and former department employees; their thoughts on the agency’s status varied, but many tried to remain hopeful.
www.insidehighered.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Ninety-five percent of the department’s employees who don’t work on federal student aid have been furloughed."
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
November 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
BOSTON (AP) — Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
BOSTON (AP) — Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.
If the administration wants to prevent student loan borrowers from receiving PSLF if they work for organizations engaged in supposedly illegal activity, why not use the proper legal channels to get such organizations shut down?
I wrote a quick piece on the Trump admin's newly published Public Service Loan Forgiveness rule that could limit some borrowers access to forgiveness even if they have spent ten years working in public service.
#StudentLoans
#PSLF
#StudentLoanForgiveness
www.forbes.com/sites/edward...
#StudentLoans
#PSLF
#StudentLoanForgiveness
www.forbes.com/sites/edward...
Trump Administration To Limit Public Service Loan Forgiveness For Some Borrowers
The Trump administration is rolling out a new rule that could limit student loan forgiveness for borrowers counting on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
www.forbes.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
If the administration wants to prevent student loan borrowers from receiving PSLF if they work for organizations engaged in supposedly illegal activity, why not use the proper legal channels to get such organizations shut down?
Reposted by Austin Slaughter
We wrote up a Brookings Post related to my recent paper with Ari Anisfeld, @drelizabethbell.bsky.social, and Dennis Kramer: www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
October 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
We wrote up a Brookings Post related to my recent paper with Ari Anisfeld, @drelizabethbell.bsky.social, and Dennis Kramer: www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
There's a growing movement to get "some college, no degree" students to reenroll and complete their degrees
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Illinois Launches Effort to Re-Enroll Adult Learners
Illinois has launched a statewide effort to re-enroll students who stopped out of college, in partnership with ReUp Education, a company focused on recruiting and supporting adult learners, according ...
www.insidehighered.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
There's a growing movement to get "some college, no degree" students to reenroll and complete their degrees
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
This is a nice summary of a recent Brookings panel on student loan limits, including a link to a recording of the panel
www.brookings.edu/articles/stu...
www.brookings.edu/articles/stu...
Student loan limits: Takeaways from a recent Brookings panel | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is a nice summary of a recent Brookings panel on student loan limits, including a link to a recording of the panel
www.brookings.edu/articles/stu...
www.brookings.edu/articles/stu...
It's noteworthy this NCAN guidance for mixed-status families filling out the FAFSA does *not* confidently encourage such families to fill out the form, citing that ED can provide information from the form to immigration enforcement
www.ncan.org/news/713255/...
www.ncan.org/news/713255/...
Updated FAFSA Guidance for Mixed-Status Families
As FAFSA completion season is well underway, NCAN continues to hear questions about how best to support students from mixed-status families.
www.ncan.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It's noteworthy this NCAN guidance for mixed-status families filling out the FAFSA does *not* confidently encourage such families to fill out the form, citing that ED can provide information from the form to immigration enforcement
www.ncan.org/news/713255/...
www.ncan.org/news/713255/...
The latest round of layoffs at ED has been blocked by a federal judge. The Supreme Court will likely give a green light to the layoffs, though, just as they did with the March round of layoffs.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Federal Judge Indefinitely Blocks Trump’s Latest Layoffs
A federal district court judge indefinitely blocked President Trump’s most recent round of staff cuts Tuesday, saying his actions were likely unlawful and that the plaintiffs had a good case for argui...
www.insidehighered.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The latest round of layoffs at ED has been blocked by a federal judge. The Supreme Court will likely give a green light to the layoffs, though, just as they did with the March round of layoffs.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
The grad school loan caps in OBBBA seem half-baked to me
I'm not opposed to some version of caps, but:
-100k versus 200k is a big/rough difference
-the distinctions are untethered to earnings and value to taxpayers
-there's no recognition of variation in quality across programs within a field
I'm not opposed to some version of caps, but:
-100k versus 200k is a big/rough difference
-the distinctions are untethered to earnings and value to taxpayers
-there's no recognition of variation in quality across programs within a field
ED Panel Prepares to Settle Student Loan Caps
Talks over which graduate programs qualify for more loans resume next week. The Education Department and higher ed negotiators remain far apart on the best solution.
www.insidehighered.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The grad school loan caps in OBBBA seem half-baked to me
I'm not opposed to some version of caps, but:
-100k versus 200k is a big/rough difference
-the distinctions are untethered to earnings and value to taxpayers
-there's no recognition of variation in quality across programs within a field
I'm not opposed to some version of caps, but:
-100k versus 200k is a big/rough difference
-the distinctions are untethered to earnings and value to taxpayers
-there's no recognition of variation in quality across programs within a field
The administration wants to make dramatic cuts to adult education, which would be harmful to community colleges
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The Little-Known Way That Trump Is Upending Community College
The administration’s plan to cut millions in adult-education funding runs counter to its goal of addressing work-force needs, program leaders say. The government cites “dismal results.”
www.chronicle.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The administration wants to make dramatic cuts to adult education, which would be harmful to community colleges
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...