Donald Trump is threatening to cut off certain federal funding to colleges that fail to work to curb soaring tuition costs. His plan sounds a lot like the one proposed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during his own 2016 presidential run.

Trump tells a rally crowd in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday night that "one of the biggest problems facing young people and families today is the cost of college education."

To rein in costs, he says he wants to work with Congress to make sure colleges only get access to certain federal tax breaks and other benefits if they "make good-faith efforts to reduce the cost of college and student debt."

Trump has often mentioned the issues of college affordability and debt in passing. But this is the first time he's proposed how to address it.

Christie is now a top Trump adviser.