Donald Trump’s Administration Dismantles HBCU Scholarship Program
February 20, 2025|HBCU
By: La'Shanda Love
The treatment of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serves as a litmus test for any administration's commitment to racial equity and educational opportunity. Just recently, Donald Trump’s administration ended the 1890 National Scholars Program, a vital scholarship initiative that supported students attending land-grant HBCUs. This decision not only deprived students of financial aid but also signaled a broader disregard for the critical role these institutions play in advancing Black education and economic mobility. The HBCUs affected by this decision include schools like Tuskegee University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Florida A&M University, all of which have historically relied on such programs to provide opportunities for underserved students.
In sharp contrast, the Biden-Harris Administration allocated $17 billion in funding to HBCUs, an unprecedented investment aimed at revitalizing campuses, expanding academic offerings, and providing much-needed resources to students. That bold action underscored their dedication to addressing decades of systemic underfunding and ensuring that HBCUs could continue to serve as engines of opportunity for Black communities.
I firmly believe that if Vice President Kamala Harris had been elected president in 2024, this level of support would have been even more robust. As a champion of HBCUs with a proven track record of advocating for marginalized groups, Harris implemented policies that tackled inequities head-on throughout her entire career. From criminal justice reform to voting rights protections, her vision aligned closely with the needs of Black Americans. Had she been at the helm right now, I am confident that additional measures would have been implemented to secure long-term growth and innovation within HBCUs.
While progress was made under Biden-Harris, I hold Black MAGA pundits accountable for allowing such harmful setbacks during Trump’s presidency. These voices often dismiss warnings about Project 2025, a blueprint designed to dismantle civil rights protections, as mere fear-mongering. Groups like FBA (Foundational Black Americans), ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery), and B1 (Black 1st) accused other Black critics of exaggerating threats posed by Trump’s policies. Yet, the elimination of programs like the 1890 National Scholars Program proves just how real those dangers are.
What frustrates me most is how much energy was wasted debating Kamala Harris’s blackness rather than focusing on the tangible consequences of Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. Critics obsessed over whether she met some arbitrary standard of authenticity, yet now opportunities were being stripped away from HBCU students. Instead of uniting around shared goals, too many allowed divisive rhetoric to blind them to the urgent need for advocacy and action.
Even more troubling is the fact that Black MAGA, FBA, ADOS, and B1 have been more concerned with building their influence online than pushing realistic policies that truly benefit our people. Their focus on being influencers has come at the expense of addressing the real issues facing Black communities, such as educational access, economic empowerment, and systemic racism. While they engage in performative debates and vie for social media clout, programs that directly impact HBCU students are being dismantled without consequence.
We cannot afford to let performative debates distract us from the real stakes. Supporting leaders who prioritize equity and justice isn’t about identity politics. It’s about securing a future where every student has access to quality education and opportunity. As we reflect on the contrasting approaches of the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations, let us remember what truly matters, action over rhetoric. By holding ourselves accountable and staying focused on substantive change, we can ensure that HBCUs thrive and continue to transform lives for generations to come.
February 20, 2025|HBCU
By: La'Shanda Love
The treatment of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serves as a litmus test for any administration's commitment to racial equity and educational opportunity. Just recently, Donald Trump’s administration ended the 1890 National Scholars Program, a vital scholarship initiative that supported students attending land-grant HBCUs. This decision not only deprived students of financial aid but also signaled a broader disregard for the critical role these institutions play in advancing Black education and economic mobility. The HBCUs affected by this decision include schools like Tuskegee University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Florida A&M University, all of which have historically relied on such programs to provide opportunities for underserved students.
In sharp contrast, the Biden-Harris Administration allocated $17 billion in funding to HBCUs, an unprecedented investment aimed at revitalizing campuses, expanding academic offerings, and providing much-needed resources to students. That bold action underscored their dedication to addressing decades of systemic underfunding and ensuring that HBCUs could continue to serve as engines of opportunity for Black communities.
I firmly believe that if Vice President Kamala Harris had been elected president in 2024, this level of support would have been even more robust. As a champion of HBCUs with a proven track record of advocating for marginalized groups, Harris implemented policies that tackled inequities head-on throughout her entire career. From criminal justice reform to voting rights protections, her vision aligned closely with the needs of Black Americans. Had she been at the helm right now, I am confident that additional measures would have been implemented to secure long-term growth and innovation within HBCUs.
While progress was made under Biden-Harris, I hold Black MAGA pundits accountable for allowing such harmful setbacks during Trump’s presidency. These voices often dismiss warnings about Project 2025, a blueprint designed to dismantle civil rights protections, as mere fear-mongering. Groups like FBA (Foundational Black Americans), ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery), and B1 (Black 1st) accused other Black critics of exaggerating threats posed by Trump’s policies. Yet, the elimination of programs like the 1890 National Scholars Program proves just how real those dangers are.
What frustrates me most is how much energy was wasted debating Kamala Harris’s blackness rather than focusing on the tangible consequences of Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. Critics obsessed over whether she met some arbitrary standard of authenticity, yet now opportunities were being stripped away from HBCU students. Instead of uniting around shared goals, too many allowed divisive rhetoric to blind them to the urgent need for advocacy and action.
Even more troubling is the fact that Black MAGA, FBA, ADOS, and B1 have been more concerned with building their influence online than pushing realistic policies that truly benefit our people. Their focus on being influencers has come at the expense of addressing the real issues facing Black communities, such as educational access, economic empowerment, and systemic racism. While they engage in performative debates and vie for social media clout, programs that directly impact HBCU students are being dismantled without consequence.
We cannot afford to let performative debates distract us from the real stakes. Supporting leaders who prioritize equity and justice isn’t about identity politics. It’s about securing a future where every student has access to quality education and opportunity. As we reflect on the contrasting approaches of the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations, let us remember what truly matters, action over rhetoric. By holding ourselves accountable and staying focused on substantive change, we can ensure that HBCUs thrive and continue to transform lives for generations to come.
