Just days after cutting $350 million in funding for minority-serving institutions, the Trump administration and Department of Education announced its plan to provide almost $500 million for HBCUs, tribal colleges and universities, charter schools, and other American history and civics programs. The surplus of funds comes from discretionary programs thatno longer serve in the best interest of students and families. The Trump administration is using this latest investment into HBCUs as a way to follow through on a campaign promise to create better educational outcomes.
HBCUs and TCCUs are expected to receive a one-time investment of $495 million in addition to their current annual funding. With this significant investment, HBCUs are looking at an almost 50% increase in funding, while TCCUs are expecting an increase of 109.3%, bringing the total overall funding to $1.34 billion for HBCUs and $108 million for TCCUs.
The Charlotte Post did a deeper analysis of what this new funding could mean for HBCUs, specifically HBCUs in North Carolina. North Carolina is home to ten of the 105 HBCUs in the United States. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon broke down how the investment will be given in a statement.
“[T]he department is making three massive investments—redirecting financial support away from ineffective and discriminatory programs toward those which support student success,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “We are proud to make the largest investment in the Charter Schools Grants Program in the department’s history, support American history programs that will inspire young people to be active and informed citizens, and recognize Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities’ historic contributions to improving education and opportunity in our country.”
This news comes as a shock to many, as the Department of Education recently cut funding for minority-serving institutions after President Trump thought those programs to be “inherently racist.” Solicitor General D. John Sauer says that these programs “violate the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.”
To follow through with a commitment made by the Trump administration earlier this year, the record $500 million will also go towards charter schools. McMahon says that this decision will “meaningfully advance educational outcomes.
“The department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs that promote merit and excellence in education,” McMahon said. “The Trump administration will use every available tool to meaningfully advance educational outcomes and ensure every American has the opportunity to succeed in life.”
