Summary

The Trump Administration’s Department of Education, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, has announced it will cease funding for several Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) grant programs. The decision affects approximately $350 million in discretionary funding for programs supporting Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and several others.

The administration argues that these programs are unconstitutional, as their eligibility requirements are based on racial and ethnic enrollment quotas. The move follows a determination by the U.S. Solicitor General that the HSI program violates the Equal Protection Clause.

The decision has drawn swift criticism from education leaders and Democrats, who argue the cuts will harm under-resourced and first-generation students. Opponents of the cuts point out that the grants fund institutions, not individual students, and benefit all attendees, regardless of race. The administration plans to reallocate the funding to other priorities, while a portion of mandatory funding for these programs will remain. The decision is expected to face legal challenges.

Read response from SEARAC.