Trump Administration Proposes Cuts to Tribal College Funding for Second Year

Fri Apr 10 2026 01:46:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Trump administration's fiscal year 2027 budget plan proposes slashing funding for tribal colleges and universities, which could force many to close. Advocates are calling these cuts 'unacceptable' and urging Congress to take action.

In a continuing trend from last year, President Trump's budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 suggests significant cuts to federal funding for tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), including the elimination of funding for the Institute for American Indian Arts. Advocates warn that if these cuts pass, many TCUs may close within a year, severely impacting education for Native American students.

For the second year in a row, the Trump administration is proposing substantial cuts to federal funding for tribal colleges and universities.

President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget proposal plans to increase defense spending by $1.5 trillion while slashing billions from programs that serve tribal nations, including the complete elimination of funding for the Institute for American Indian Arts—the only federally funded college for contemporary Native American arts.

The recent budget proposal also suggests cuts to TCUs and funding for two Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools: Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in New Mexico. Last year, students from both institutions sued the Bureau over funding reductions and staffing shortages caused by the administration.

“If this budget were to pass, our TCUs would be forced to close within a year,” stated Ahniwake Rose, president of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. The potential loss of funding could cripple higher education access for Native American communities, particularly those in rural areas.

Trump's budget further threatens billions in housing, business, and infrastructure grants crucial to Native Americans. With around thirty-six TCUs primarily funded by the federal government, this financial commitment stems from the government’s trust responsibilities and treaty rights owed to tribal nations.

Last year, Trump also slashed funding for TCUs, including various grants supporting education for tribal citizens through agencies like the USDA. Some funds that were previously allocated to TCUs were shifted to historically Black colleges and Universities, raising concerns about reliability for tribal institution funding this year.

Tribal college leaders are not optimistic about receiving the reallocated funds. Rose emphasized that it is up to Congress to protect federal funding for TCUs, reiterating that “these cuts are unacceptable.” New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján, also echoed these sentiments, claiming that the proposed elimination of IAIA funding is a blatant attack on Native communities. He voiced a commitment to fight for the necessary financial resources.