Redirecting Federal Funds: A Focus on Historically Black and Tribal Colleges

Tue Sep 30 2025 04:57:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A significant federal funding boost is directed by the Trump administration towards historically Black colleges and tribal institutions, offset by cuts to programs for other minority-serving colleges.

The Trump administration has announced a nearly $500 million funding boost for historically Black colleges and tribal universities, marking a substantial increase in federal support. This funding will result in a 48% increase for HBCUs and a doubling of resources for tribal colleges, primarily funded through significant reductions to programs aiding Latino and other minority students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the commitment to redirecting funds from discriminatory programs to those ensuring merit and educational excellence.

In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration is set to redirect close to $500 million in federal funding aimed at bolstering historically Black colleges and tribal colleges, a decision stemming from cuts imposed on other institutions that serve significant bodies of minority students.

The U.S. Department of Education has shared that these funds come primarily from a $350 million reduction in grants aimed at Hispanic-Serving Institutions. This shift led the department to define certain minority-focused programs as unconstitutional due to the racial quotas tied to funding eligibility.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has stated that this reallocation is designed to eliminate ineffective programs and enhance support for institutions that prioritize student success. She remarked, The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants to ensure that taxpayer money promotes merit and educational excellence rather than racial discrimination.

The department will also allocate approximately $60 million for charter schools and $137 million for grants focused on American history and civics, aligning with President Trump’s broader educational priorities emphasized at an executive action in January.

According to the Education Department, this single allocation reflects a significant 48% increase for HBCUs while more than doubling the funding for tribal colleges. The funding changes illustrate a strategic pivot enabled by a recent stopgap funding bill giving the executive branch enhanced discretionary power over educational spending.

Trump has long positioned himself as a staunch advocate for historically Black colleges, having previously secured a $250 million annual increase in their funding during his presidency. His administration continues to reinforce support through initiatives like annual White House summits and advisory boards dedicated to HBCUs.

This fund reallocation has sparked contention within the political arena, facing backlash from Democratic lawmakers who argue that specifically targeted grants for minority institutions have historically promoted social mobility among underserved populations.

In July, a memo from the Justice Department criticized the Hispanic Serving Institution program for its supposed unconstitutionality based on ethnic enrollment thresholds, suggesting these criteria unfairly disadvantaged colleges that serve Hispanic students without meeting the prescribed demographic.”