People don't seem to know where this is coming from. This isn't Congress "screwing over the middle class". This is because the Pell Grant program has grown so much so quickly.

It's the largest source of funding for postsecondary education in the nation. The 2008 cost was 18 billion. The expected cost for 2013 is -double- that at 36 billion. The cuts are because it has expanded so dramatically.

They're providing more funding to the program than they were previously (now it is 22.8 billion, and will be in 2013 also) , it's just that so many more students are trying to utilize it that they have to manage the eligibility.

The article didn't state it, but both GED and High-school diplomas provide eligibility. Those lacking both will be ineligible, however.

Essentially also, students who receive minimum Pell grant funding ($550) will no longer be eligible.

They're reducing the maximum duration to 12 full-time semesters (6 years of semesters) which is totally reasonable for college completion.