Changes who may take part in Federal TRIO programs by adding and clarifying eligible citizenship and residency categories. The rule adds U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, certain noncitizens who intend to become permanent residents, citizens and lawful residents of the Freely Associated States, and residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

The change also prevents certain appropriation- or pilot-program authorities from waiving these citizenship/residency requirements and makes technical edits throughout the Higher Education Act to align other provisions with the new eligibility rule.