Key Points:
- The Trump administration will reallocate nearly $500 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
- Funding comes after $350 million in cuts to programs serving Hispanic and other minority students.
- Officials say the move prioritizes “merit and excellence,” sparking debate over broader impacts on diversity initiatives.
Boost for HBCUs and Tribal Colleges
The Trump administration announced Monday that it will inject nearly $500 million in new funding into historically Black and tribal colleges, marking one of the largest boosts these institutions have received in recent years. The U.S. Department of Education said the additional investment would raise HBCU funding by nearly 50% and more than double allocations for TCCUs. In total, HBCUs will receive more than $1.34 billion and tribal colleges over $108 million in fiscal year 2025.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to ensure taxpayer dollars support programs based on “merit and excellence” rather than race-conscious policies. “The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those which promote student success,” McMahon said.
The administration stressed that while the new funding is significant, it is a one-time, discretionary reallocation. Officials noted that the money comes from programs they argued were “not in the best interest of students and families.”
Cuts to Other Minority Programs Raise Questions
The announcement follows a separate decision to eliminate $350 million in grants for Minority-Serving Institutions, including colleges with large Hispanic enrollments and schools serving Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students. The White House has described such grants as unconstitutional, likening them to race-based quotas.
Critics argue the move reflects a larger pattern in Trump’s education policy. His administration has scaled back civil rights investigations in schools, challenged diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and even questioned what it sees as an “overemphasis” on slavery in Smithsonian museum exhibits.
At the same time, the Department of Education announced $500 million in new grants for charter schools and $160 million for civics and American history programs. Officials linked those investments to concerns over recent declines in K-12 student achievement.
Supporters of the new funding say the additional resources will provide vital support to historically underfunded Black and tribal institutions. However, opponents argue that by cutting programs for other minority-serving schools, the administration risks deepening educational inequities while presenting the move as a shift toward neutrality and merit.