Free Community College Is Off the Table, Jill Biden Is to Confirm

In a speech on Monday, the first lady will acknowledge that her signature legislative initiative is “no longer” in the Democrats’ spending bill.

WASHINGTON — During his first address to Congress last spring, President Biden said that Jill Biden, the first lady, would lead an effort to fulfill his administration’s promise to provide two years of free community college to all eligible students.

That provision, tucked inside a massive social spending package that has struggled to win the support of all the senators who caucus with the Democrats, was the first lady’s signature legislative initiative. But on Monday, Dr. Biden will address a summit of community college leaders and confirm what her husband has recently suggested: The plan has no future in a bill that Democrats are trying to whittle down in order to salvage.

“One year ago, I told this group that Joe was going to fight for community colleges,” she will say on Monday at the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, according to excerpts from her speech shared by her office. “But Joe has also had to make compromises. Congress hasn’t passed the Build Back Better agenda — yet. And free community college is no longer a part of that package.”