Trump boosts HBCU funding after slashing Hispanic college grants: Here’s why it’s more than just politics
The Trump administration has announced a major reallocation of federal education funding, increasing support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges by nearly $500 million. This funding shift comes shortly after the US Department of Education cut approximately $350 million in grants primarily designated for colleges that serve high numbers of Hispanic students.The Education Department stated that the reallocation was carried out under new discretionary authority granted through a stopgap funding bill passed by Congress. This bill gives the executive branch greater control over how certain funds are spent. The funding changes also align with President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the department to prioritise charter schools and school choice initiatives.Funding redirected toward HBCUs and tribal collegesAccording to the US Department of Education, the funding boost for HBCUs represents a 48% one-time increase, while support for tribal colleges has more than doubled. In addition, about $60 million has been redirected toward charter schools, and $137 million has been allocated for American history and civics education grants.Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the changes are aimed at eliminating what the department identified as racially exclusive programmes. As reported by the Associated Press, McMahon said, “The Department has carefully scrutinised our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education.”The Education Department added that the funds had been diverted from programmes determined to be “not in the best interest of students and families,” according to a statement cited by the Associated Press.Cuts affect decades-old support for Hispanic-serving institutionsThe grants for Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) were originally established by Congress in 1998, following findings that Latino students were enrolling in and completing university at significantly lower rates than their white peers. The recent cuts roll back years of bipartisan support for these programmes.The Justice Department supported the Education Department’s decision in a July memo, arguing that the HSI grants are unconstitutional because eligibility depends on a college having a student population that is at least 25% Hispanic. As reported by the Associated Press, the memo stated that such racial thresholds constitute discriminatory criteria.The Associated Press also reported that the state of Tennessee, along with Students for Fair Admissions, has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the HSI grants. The suit argues that all public universities in Tennessee serve Hispanic students, yet none qualify for funding due to what it calls an “arbitrary ethnic threshold,” resulting in the loss of tens of millions of dollars.Broader shifts in federal education prioritiesAlongside the HSI cuts, the Department is also redirecting funds from a range of other programmes, including those that support gifted and talented education, magnet schools, international education, and teacher training. According to a source familiar with the decision, most of these programmes would be eliminated entirely under the Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal. The individual, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, was not authorised to discuss the decision publicly.President Trump has previously called himself a supporter of HBCUs. In his first term, Congress added $250 million annually for HBCUs, and this year he signed an executive action establishing a yearly White House summit, an advisory board, and other federal support for HBCUs.
