The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is looking on President Trump to reinstate an schooling program designed to assist college students from rural and underserved communities pursuing levels in agriculture and associated fields at traditionally Black faculties and universities (HBCUs).
The U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) indefinitely suspended the 1890 Scholarship Program on Thursday. In accordance with the USDA’s web site, this system is “pending further review.”
“The Trump Administration’s decision to suspend the 1890 Scholars Program ‘pending further review’ is an outrageous disruption that undermines efforts to make higher education accessible for Black students and correct our nation’s history of systemic racial discrimination within the land-grant system,” stated Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), chair of the CBC, on Friday.
“President Trump repeatedly promised the American people that he would work to lower the costs of living and create greater access to economic opportunity, including for Black communities,” she continued. “Since January 20th, 2025 this administration has been on a cruel rampage, showing us every day that hard working Americans are not their priority. Instead of working to make our lives better, the Trump administration continues to try to take our country backward.”
The USDA didn’t instantly reply to The Hill’s request for remark, however the Trump administration has issued a mess of government orders rolling again federal variety, fairness and inclusion efforts.
This system, established in 1992, offers full tuition, room and board to college students pursuing levels in agriculture, meals, pure useful resource sciences or associated fields.
Final yr, greater than $19 million was allotted to 94 college students throughout 19 HBCUs taking part in this system.
Purposes for this system shut March 1, and the CBC is looking on Trump to reinstate this system forward of the deadline.
“For decades, this program has been vital to the success of the agriculture industry, and CBC has championed this historic and bipartisan program to open doors to talented students from underserved communities,” Clarke stated.
Members of the CBC have expressed outrage over the suspension, warning of the outsized affect the pause can have on Black college students looking for to enter the agricultural subject.
Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) referred to as the suspension a “clear attack on an invaluable program” making larger schooling accessible.
“This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it,” stated Adams, including the suspension is “targeted and mean-spirited.”
Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) added that the transfer is “another egregious attack on fairness and opportunity” from Trump’s administration.
“Freezing a scholarship program for students from rural and underserved communities to study agriculture punishes talented students and hurts our future,” stated Brown.
USDA stated college students in this system would be capable of full it.
“To be clear, each scholar — over 300 — no matter matriculation date, was retained to complete their research and full their work with the Division. In step with President Trump’s directive, USDA is optimizing operations and strengthening its capability to serve farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture neighborhood. Like different packages throughout the Division, Secretary Rollins will proceed to assessment the 1890 Nationwide Students Program, its mission, and its metrics to make sure probably the most environment friendly use of taxpayer sources,” a USDA spokesperson informed The Hill.
