WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has initiated a substantial shift in federal educational funding, redirecting nearly $500 million toward historically Black colleges and tribal colleges, marking a significant one-time investment. This funding boost is primarily sourced from cuts to other institutions that serve large populations of minority students. The Education Department's announcement comes shortly after a reduction of $350 million from other grant programs, primarily affecting colleges with high Hispanic student enrollments. Educators have voiced concern, arguing these cuts could adversely impact access to higher education for minority groups.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon justified the redirection of funds, claiming that it is essential to move financial support away from programs that are seen as ineffective or discriminatory. “The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education,” she stated.
Alongside the funding for HBCUs and tribal colleges, approximately $60 million is being allocated toward charter schools, while around $137 million is designated for American history and civics grants. The funding changes align with President Trump's previous executive orders intended to repurpose federal money towards charter schools and school choice initiatives.
This funding increase represents a 48% bump for HBCUs, while funding for tribal colleges more than doubles, as stated by the department. The move is facilitated by new discretionary powers granted to the executive branch through a recent stopgap funding bill passed by Congress.
The decision to cut grants that support Hispanic-serving institutions reverses a longstanding bipartisan effort initiated in 1998 to support Latino students, which has broad historical support due to its positive impact on social mobility. The changes have drawn criticism from Democrats, who have expressed concern over the potential negative implications for educational equity.
In response to legal challenges critiquing the constitutionality of minority-targeted funding programs, the Justice Department declared that grants for Hispanic-serving institutions are unconstitutional since they specify racial enrollment thresholds. As debates over educational funding continue, the administration's strategies remain a contentious topic among educators and policymakers alike.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon justified the redirection of funds, claiming that it is essential to move financial support away from programs that are seen as ineffective or discriminatory. “The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education,” she stated.
Alongside the funding for HBCUs and tribal colleges, approximately $60 million is being allocated toward charter schools, while around $137 million is designated for American history and civics grants. The funding changes align with President Trump's previous executive orders intended to repurpose federal money towards charter schools and school choice initiatives.
This funding increase represents a 48% bump for HBCUs, while funding for tribal colleges more than doubles, as stated by the department. The move is facilitated by new discretionary powers granted to the executive branch through a recent stopgap funding bill passed by Congress.
The decision to cut grants that support Hispanic-serving institutions reverses a longstanding bipartisan effort initiated in 1998 to support Latino students, which has broad historical support due to its positive impact on social mobility. The changes have drawn criticism from Democrats, who have expressed concern over the potential negative implications for educational equity.
In response to legal challenges critiquing the constitutionality of minority-targeted funding programs, the Justice Department declared that grants for Hispanic-serving institutions are unconstitutional since they specify racial enrollment thresholds. As debates over educational funding continue, the administration's strategies remain a contentious topic among educators and policymakers alike.
