President Trump Redirects $500 Million to HBCUs; Slashing $350 Million from Other Minority-Serving Institutions

The Trump administration is redirecting nearly $500 million in federal higher-education funding toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), while cutting roughly $350 million from programs serving Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other minority-serving colleges.

The U.S. Department of Education said HBCUs will receive more than $1.34 billion and TCCUs over $108 million for fiscal year 2025, representing increases of nearly 50% and 109% respectively, according to Reuters.

Florida is home to four HBCUs — including Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, the state’s only public HBCU — and private institutions such as Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters University, and Florida Memorial University. The federal funding shift could strengthen these campuses with expanded student support, research opportunities, and improved facilities.

At the same time, South Florida’s large Latino student population relies on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) like Miami Dade College and Florida International University, which may see reduced federal support under the new policy. Experts warn this could widen gaps in higher-education access between Black and Latino students. 

Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the policy, telling the Associated Press the department is eliminating programs it considers “ineffective and discriminatory” and redirecting funds toward “merit and excellence.”

Meanwhile, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $70 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), providing each of its 37 member private HBCUs with $10 million in permanent endowment support. UNCF President Michael Lomax called it a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to stabilize HBCUs and help close long-standing financial disparities with predominantly white institutions.

For Black Miamians, who have long known HBCUs like Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University to be a vehicle for economic opportunity, these funding shifts can shape the next generation of leaders, scholars, and professionals in their community. 

To track how these funding changes unfold—and what they mean for students across Florida and beyond— follow updates from the U.S. Department of Education’s official newsroom and reports.

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and watch our weekly LIVE podcast news show every Thursday at 5:30pm. Subscribe to our YouTube page to get alerts for the show.

Do you have news to share? If so, send Hy-Lo News your story ideas by clicking HERE.