President Donald Trump previewed a budget plan “that could have a severe impact on black colleges” earlier last week, according to HBCU advocates. Briana Thomas writes at Capital News Service that Trump’s “America First” proposal “decreases Department of Education funding by 13 percent, leaving some programs that support minority students unfunded.”
From Delmarva Now:
“President Donald Trump’s so-called “skinny budget” proposes spending cuts that could have a severe impact on black colleges, according to advocates for those institutions.
The budget blueprint titled “America First” decreases Department of Education funding by 13 percent, leaving some programs that support minority students unfunded.
The $9 billion budget cut to the Department of Education includes a “devastating hit” for black colleges, said Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., co-chairman of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus.”
Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Cedric Richmond said in a statement that Trump’s “skinny budget” does more harm than good for the Black community.
“Trump’s budget proposes to maintain $492 million funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions, but drastically cuts the federal programs that serve these institutions and their students.
“This budget proposal is not a new deal for African Americans. It’s a raw deal that robs the poor and the middle-class to pay the richest of the rich,” Richmond said.”
“Our students need access to financial aid so they are not burdened by crushing debt after graduation,” University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Juliette Bell explained.
Bell added: “Infrastructure enhancements, support for research and innovation, and year-round Pell Grants are some of the needs.”
Read more here.
