Joint Statement from Tri-Caucus Chairs on Trump Administration Diverting $235 Million in Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions

The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus-Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)-released the following joint statement in response to the Trump administrationdiverting an additional $235 million in federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

"HBCUs and TCUs are vital institutions that deserve robust federal investment. Rather than increasing funding for these schools, the Trump administration has decided to redirect grants intended for other institutions that support historically underserved students. We saw this same playbook last year; it is a cynical ploy to pit minority communities against each other and we won't stand for it.

"Congress specifically voted to appropriate these federal funds for programs serving Minority-Serving Institutions and the students who attend them. These investments were made to help institutions strengthen academic programs, expand student services, build institutional capacity, and ensure students have the resources they need to pursue their education and the American Dream. The administration should respect Congress's constitutional authority over federal spending and the purposes for which Congress appropriated these resources.

"Yet once again, the Trump administration is attempting to circumvent the will of Congress and divert resources away from the students and institutions Congress intended to support. This is part of the administration's continued anti-DEI campaign, which is depriving communities across the country of critical support and resources.

"Our communities should not be forced to fight over scraps when the federal government should be investing in all of them. As Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, we are fighting to ensure students from every background-Asian, Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve."

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Minority-Serving Institutions are colleges and universities that serve large minority student populations. These include Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).