The schools aren’t calling it demoting, of course, and perhaps it’s not technically so, either; but a district of community colleges in Texas is “reclassifying” librarians as professional staff rather than faculty members in order to cut costs. The thing is, the costs haven’t even been added yet, since the move was made as a preemptive strike to combat a potential $25 million loss from state funding.

The schools would reportedly save around $300,000 annually, while simultaneously stripping the library staff of both their income and titles. Many are worried that the move will set a grim precedent, allowing more schools execute the same measure and both undervalue the work of librarians—who typically have to attend school just as long as other faculty members to earn their titles—as well as underpay them.

This worrisome activity may be only the tip of the iceberg, of course, since Congress recently hacked the education budget to pieces in favor of giving more money to the department of defense and more tax cuts to the wealthy. As state governments follow suit, more and more schools are likely to start cutting corners wherever they can—harming both students as well as educators in the process.