DoD urges ‘significant’ tuition assistance cuts - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

DoD urges ‘significant’ tuition assistance cuts

The Air Force is considering whether to curtail tuition assistance after the Defense Department told all of the services to consider cutting funding for the program, officials said.

The Army and Marine Corps have both decided to suspend their tuition assistance programs. Soldiers and Marines can finish the current semester, but the services are not allowing new enrollments.

Each service is responsible for funding and administering its tuition assistance program, said Defense Department spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen.

“This week, DOD’s comptroller issued guidance indicating that the services should consider significant reductions in funding new tuition assistance applicants, effective immediately and for the duration of the current fiscal situation,” Christensen said in an email.

The Air Force has not yet decided whether to make any reductions in funding for tuition assistance, said service spokeswoman Capt. Candice Ismirle. Officials expect to have a decision in the next week or so, she said.

The Navy has also not yet decided whether to reduce its TA funding.

“We are in the process of reviewing our tuition assistance policy, and at the heart of review is the need to balance budget shortfalls with our commitment to sailor benefits,” said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Courtney Hillson.