Department Of Education Cuts $350M In Funding For Minority Serving Institutions
On Sept. 10, Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that the DOE is suspending $350 million in funds earmarked for Minority Serving Institutions. This decision follows the Trump administration’s stance that programs centered on historically disadvantaged students are “inherently racist.”
According to The New York Times, the move was met with swift criticism across political and educational circles.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, led the charge in calling out the administration. She accused McMahon and Trump of “putting politics ahead of students simply looking to get ahead, and sowing chaos in our nation’s schools.”
“These are longstanding programs that Congress has authorized and provided funding for on an annual basis that the Trump administration — empowered by the yearlong slush fund spending bill passed in March — is unilaterally deciding to eliminate funding for at the end of the year,” Murray said. “This is another important reminder of why Congress needs to pass funding bills, like the one the Senate marked up this summer, that ensure Congress — not Donald Trump or Linda McMahon — decides how limited taxpayer dollars are spent.”
Impact On Minority Serving Institutions Nationwide
What’s unclear is just how many institutions will be affected by this decision. Across the country, hundreds of two- and four-year schools serve Black, Latinx, Native American, Alaskan Native, and Hawaiian-Native populations. Many of these schools rely on federal support to keep programs alive.
For students at HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, and others, this suspension could mean fewer resources, cut programs, and limited financial aid opportunities. The fallout could hit the most vulnerable students hardest, creating barriers instead of breaking them down.
Community advocates argue that this isn’t just about dollars — it’s about opportunity. Funding cuts could strip away tutoring programs, campus resources, and scholarships that directly support minority students trying to level the playing field in higher education.