Women Employed’s Response to Governor Pritzker’s FY26 Budget Proposal
This week, Governor JB Pritzker unveiled his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Throughout his time in office, Governor Pritzker has steadily invested in both new and established programs and services that are essential to Illinois women, families, workers, and students, attempting to correct for decades of disinvestment. We appreciate the increased investments in the Monetary Award Program (MAP), public colleges and universities, and the Illinois Child Tax Credit (CTC), especially in the face of a projected budget deficit and the uncertainty and threats surrounding the impact of federal cuts and policies on Illinois. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Governor and his administration, the FY26 budget proposal does not keep pace with the urgent needs facing Illinois families.
Despite the Governor’s proposed $10 million increase for MAP, and his consistent investment in the program during his tenure, this need-based state financial aid program remains substantially underfunded. The current MAP grant only covers about 51 percent of tuition and fees at our public universities and 60 percent at our community colleges, compared to the 100 percent it covered two decades ago. In addition, some eligible students’ awards are being suspended because the funding runs out before they apply. The Governor’s proposed increase for MAP falls far short of what Illinois needs to cover all eligible students and the full cost of college. Without fully funding MAP, too many young people in Illinois will be forced to defer their dreams and forgo securing the wage-boosting power of a higher education degree, or to underwrite that degree with a loan that will burden them with years, or decades, of debt.
We had hoped to hear from the Governor about the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Formula and the accompanying funding. While a 3 percent increase of $46 million — $37 million for Illinois’ public universities and $9 million for community colleges — will certainly help our institutions keep up with some costs, it will not ensure that our institutions have enough to adequately serve their unique student bodies, nor will it go to the institutions that are furthest from fully funded.
We applaud the Governor’s commitment to the Illinois Child Tax Credit (CTC), which was established last year with a $50 million initial investment. The Governor has made good on his promise to double that investment this year, bringing the program to $100 million total, and increasing the amount of money families will receive in the future. That support will be especially critical for Illinois families who will be particularly vulnerable to the economic impacts of the federal administration’s actions.
Despite a challenging budget and uncertain financial future, Illinois should focus its investments on the programs and services that its women, families, and students need. It is our hope that, over the next few months, we can work with the Governor and the General Assembly to increase investments in critical programs and services and keep Illinois on track to meet its people’s needs.
About Women Employed
Since 1973, Women Employed (WE) has been opening doors, breaking barriers, and expanding opportunities for women. Our mission is to increase the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity, and we do that by shaping policy change, expanding access to educational opportunities, and advocating for fair and inclusive workplaces so that all women, families, and communities can thrive. For more information, visit https://womenemployed.org, or follow Women Employed on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, BlueSky, or Threads.
