Trump Administration Redirects Federal Funding to Historically Black and Tribal Colleges

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:38:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration reallocates nearly $500 million in federal funding from other minority-serving colleges to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges.

The U.S. Department of Education announced a pivotal funding increase of nearly $500 million aimed primarily at historically Black colleges (HBCUs) and tribal colleges. This reallocation comes after significant cuts to grants meant for colleges with large Hispanic student populations due to claims of unconstitutional racial quotas. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized a movement away from what she termed discriminatory programs. The funding strategy exemplifies the administration's focus on merit-based educational funding.

WASHINGTON (PulseWire) — The Trump administration is making a significant funding move, redirecting nearly $500 million in federal support to historically Black colleges and tribal colleges while substantially cutting grants for other minority-serving institutions. This change aims to prioritize educational funding that does not impose racial quotas, according to the Education Department.

The funding announcement follows the agency's decision to cut $350 million from programs primarily serving Hispanic-serving institutions, which Secretary Linda McMahon declared as unconstitutional due to their enrollment thresholds.

Education Secretary McMahon stated, The Department is scrutinizing federal grants to ensure taxpayer money is not allocated to racially discriminatory programs but rather supports student success based on merit and excellence in education. This shift represents an increase of 48% in funding for HBCUs and more than double the funding for tribal colleges.

In addition to support for HBCUs and tribal colleges, about $60 million is being directed towards charter schools, while $137 million will fund American history and civics education. This funding strategy reflects President Trump's ongoing advocacy for HBCUs, with previous initiatives adding $250 million annually during his term.

The reallocation of funds comes with implications, as funding will be redirected from programs deemed ineffective by the Department of Education. Many programs, including those that support gifted and talented initiatives, magnet schools, and teacher training, have been affected, with the potential for zeroing out proposed in the 2026 budget request.

The recent cuts stirred controversy, drawing swift backlash from Democrats who argue that these programs were instrumental in enhancing social mobility for working-class Americans. Critics have pointed out that such decisions may significantly impact institutions historically serving traditionally underrepresented student populations.

This substantial overhaul reflects a growing trend in educational funding policies while raising questions about impacts on minority-serving institutions.