“Trump’s New HBCU Power Play: Bold Promises, But Where’s the Funding?”

Donald Trump is back with a big promise to boost Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and he’s calling it a major power move. He dropped a new executive order that puts HBCUs front and center in his administration’s plans — but here’s the real tea: there’s no fresh funding behind it.

So, What’s the Plan?

• HBCUs in the White House Spotlight

  
  

  Trump’s plan creates a high-level position in the White House dedicated solely to HBCUs — giving them direct access to presidential ears.

• Private Partnerships Are Key

  
  

  Instead of cutting checks, the order leans on private businesses and philanthropists to step up and support HBCUs with money, resources, and connections.

• Stronger Student Success & Innovation

  
  

  The goal is to make HBCUs hotbeds for research, leadership, and success — building bridges from K-12 into college and beyond.

• Annual HBCU Summit

  
  

  Every year, leaders from education, business, and government will come together to plan, connect, and uplift HBCUs at the White House.

• Backing Federal Legislation

  
  

  The order supports the HBCU PARTNERS Act, which makes federal agencies build specific plans for working with HBCUs.

But Here’s What It’s

Not

Doing

• No New Money

  
  

  Trump isn’t adding any new federal funding. Instead, he’s asking states to pitch in more — and telling HBCUs to get in where they fit in with existing programs.

• Shuffling the Deck

  
  

  A previous Biden-era HBCU initiative is being shut down, and a new advisory board under the Department of Education will take over — filled with educators, business minds, and HBCU leaders.

• EPA HBCU Council? Gone.

  
  

  An Environmental Protection Agency council focused on HBCUs and minority-serving institutions is getting the boot within two weeks.

This new plan sets the stage for stronger federal focus on HBCUs — but without new dollars, it’s giving more “strategic vision” than “real results.” Whether it changes the game or just makes headlines, time (and receipts) will tell.