Christian Colleges Must Cut Up Their Federal Student Aid Cards Before Washington Cuts Them Up

Dr Eric Wallace Says Hillsdale Has Already Proved It Works as Trump Administration Section 84001 Targets Religion Programs Nationwide

Christian Post columnist Dr Eric M. Wallace has called on Christian colleges and seminaries to permanently sever ties with the federal student aid system. His op ed, published 21 May 2026, argues that the trillion dollar federal student loan system has produced inflated tuition, government overreach into Christian institutions, and predictable threats like Section 84001 of the Big Beautiful Bill.

"The borrower is the slave of the lender," Wallace writes, citing the biblical principle.

How Federal Student Aid Has Quietly Compromised Christian Colleges for 60 Years

Wallace's case is direct. Federal student aid has expanded dramatically since the Higher Education Act of 1965. Tuition has inflated. Student debt has climbed past a trillion dollars. Federal funding brings federal oversight on admissions policies, gender policies, and accreditation pressures. Christian schools that take the money inevitably surrender ground on their mission.

The model exists. Hillsdale College rejected all federal and state funding decades ago. The school prioritises institutional freedom over subsidies and has built a national reputation. Wallace asks the obvious question: why do conservatives oppose federal involvement in healthcare and housing but accept it in education? Section 84001 of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, which threatens federal loan eligibility for religion programs based on graduate income, is the predictable next step. The break must come now.

The Crusader's Opinion

Hillsdale is the proof. Christian institutions can thrive without federal money. Wallace is asking the right question. If you trust God's people to disciple your children, why would you trust Washington bureaucrats to subsidise their education? Every Christian college board in America should be reading this op ed this week. Cut up the federal aid cards. Build a parallel funding model based on tuition, philanthropy, and church partnership. The federal door will eventually close. Better to walk out now than be pushed.

Take Action

• Read: Dr Eric Wallace's full Christian Post column
• Support: Hillsdale College as the financial independence model
• Donate: Your local Christian college's scholarship fund
• Contact: Your alma mater's board urging a federal aid exit strategy
• Share: The "borrower is the slave" verse and Wallace's argument