USDA cuts Land-grant HBCU scholarship program /* after backlash & pressure they reopened program

[Thurgood Thurston III]

The tangibles @HarlemHottie wanted

Man, why you gotta bother her. She's been gone for over a month.

 

[staticshock]

Man, why you gotta bother her. She's been gone for over a month.

fukk her & every bothsiders. Stop simping it won’t get you any p*ssy bruh

 

[get these nets]

:

 

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L

Under pressure, White House reinstates HBCU scholars program

02/25/25

The Trump administration has reopened applications for a federal scholarship that aids studying agriculture at historically Black universities after outcry from lawmakers over its abrupt suspension last week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal 1890 National Scholars Program through its Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), put the program on hold last week “pending further review,” but the program’s USDA website was updated Tuesday to note that the application process has resumed. Eligible students can apply through March 15.

USDA’s OPPE said its review had been completed so applications were reopened.
“The application process was temporarily suspended pending review to ensure that the program, its mission and its metrics ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer resources,” a USDA spokesperson told The Hill. “This review was completed late afternoon on [Monday].”

The spokesperson added that the USDA has planned a public webinar next Tuesday for those who are interested in the program and other efforts to assist students with the application process.
“OPPE will continue to support applicants and selected scholars as they matriculate through the program,” the spokesperson said.

The new administration, under President Trump’s direct order, has sought to shutter many federal programs that are geared toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

The HBCU scholars program, which was created in 1992, provides tuition and room and board for selected students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or related fields at 19 historically Black schools across the country. Ninety-four students received the scholarship last year.

“I’m pleased the Secretary has lifted the suspension of and reopened the application for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program,” Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) said in a statement on the reversal. “This program has been in place since 1992, and I hope we can work together to address the real challenges and real opportunities for our 1890s and our HBCUs.”

Adams is a founding member of the bipartisan HBCU caucus in Congress and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, and she had been a vocal opponent of the proposed change.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) also had blasted the pause before its reversal. In a statement to The Hill after the program was reopened, Ossoff said he would continue to watch for other attempts at program changes that would affect HBCU funding.

“The Trump Administration should never have paused this funding in the first place,” he said. “I will continue my oversight to ensure that Georgia HBCU students receive the support Congress directed to them.”

 

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USDA 1890 National Scholars Program

USDA 1890 National Scholars Program

www.usda.gov

The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15th. Please check this page again for information about upcoming webinars.

OPPE will host a webinar on Tuesday, March 4 featuring more information about the program, eligibility, fields of study and the selection process. The second portion of the webinar will be Q&A.

 

[Gloxina]

L

Under pressure, White House reinstates HBCU scholars program

02/25/25

The Trump administration has reopened applications for a federal scholarship that aids studying agriculture at historically Black universities after outcry from lawmakers over its abrupt suspension last week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal 1890 National Scholars Program through its Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), put the program on hold last week “pending further review,” but the program’s USDA website was updated Tuesday to note that the application process has resumed. Eligible students can apply through March 15.

USDA’s OPPE said its review had been completed so applications were reopened.
“The application process was temporarily suspended pending review to ensure that the program, its mission and its metrics ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer resources,” a USDA spokesperson told The Hill. “This review was completed late afternoon on [Monday].”

The spokesperson added that the USDA has planned a public webinar next Tuesday for those who are interested in the program and other efforts to assist students with the application process.
“OPPE will continue to support applicants and selected scholars as they matriculate through the program,” the spokesperson said.

The new administration, under President Trump’s direct order, has sought to shutter many federal programs that are geared toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

The HBCU scholars program, which was created in 1992, provides tuition and room and board for selected students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or related fields at 19 historically Black schools across the country. Ninety-four students received the scholarship last year.

“I’m pleased the Secretary has lifted the suspension of and reopened the application for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program,” Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) said in a statement on the reversal. “This program has been in place since 1992, and I hope we can work together to address the real challenges and real opportunities for our 1890s and our HBCUs.”

Adams is a founding member of the bipartisan HBCU caucus in Congress and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, and she had been a vocal opponent of the proposed change.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) also had blasted the pause before its reversal. In a statement to The Hill after the program was reopened, Ossoff said he would continue to watch for other attempts at program changes that would affect HBCU funding.

“The Trump Administration should never have paused this funding in the first place,” he said. “I will continue my oversight to ensure that Georgia HBCU students receive the support Congress directed to them.”

Thank goodness

 

[get these nets]

Black Farmers Mobilize to Protect Vital HBCU Scholarship

Although the 1890 scholars program is reinstated, alumni and advocates are organizing to ensure the survival of historically Black land-grant institutions.

capitalbnews.org

03/11/25

 

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Alabama Democrat introduces legislation to protect land-grant schools​

05/08/25

A first-term Democrat has introduced legislation to protect land-grant universities in an effort to block some of the White House’s steps to reduce federal funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.


Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) on Thursday introduced the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act, which would prohibit the secretary of Agriculture or any other federal official from reducing, eliminating or suspending funding to land-grant institutions without the authorization of Congress.


In a statement to The Hill, Figures pointed to the USDA’s February decision to suspend the 1890 scholars program as part of the Trump administration’s review of DEI policies. The program, introduced in 1992, provides tuition and room and board for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or related fields at 19 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation.


“Earlier this year, the Trump administration suspended funding for historically Black land grant colleges, but did not pause the same funding for the predominately white land-grant institutions,” Figures said. “That is simply wrong and that decision sent a clear message about the vulnerability of programs designed to uplift underserved communities.”


The USDA’s decision to suspend the program sparked outrage among members of the Congressional Black Caucus, with many warning of the outsized impact the program’s pause would have on Black students seeking to enter the agricultural field.

The administration restored the program shortly after its initial suspension, but lawmakers have continued to express concerns over the White House’s efforts to eliminate any DEI programs.

“Under this bill, funding for land grant institutions will be treated equally and funds cannot be paused, cut, or eliminated without congressional approval,” Figures said Thursday. “I’m committed to protecting our HBCUs and the students that they serve.”

There are 107 HBCUs in the nation; only 19 are land-grant institutions.

President Trump has vowed to keep federal funding available for HBCUs and earlier this month launched an initiative to support the schools.

Figures’s bill has the support of multiple members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Co-sponsors for the legislation include Democratic Reps. Alma Adams (N.C.); Jennifer McClellan (Va.); Terri Sewell (Ala.); Valerie Foushee (N.C.); Bennie Thompson (Miss.); Hank Johnson (Ga.); Glenn Ivey (Md.); Robin Kelly (Ill.); Cleo Fields (La.); David Scott (Ga.); and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.).

Adams, in a statement to The Hill, called the legislation an “important step” to protecting HBCU funding.

“The Land-Grant Institution Parity Act is an important step to protect funding for our land-grant HBCUs and build equity in higher education,” said the North Carolina Democrat, who led the effort alongside Figures. “1890s schools have always punched above their weight and provided outsized benefits to their students, their research, and their communities.”

“They know how to do more with less, but they shouldn’t have to,” she added. “It’s time we ensure these institutions of excellence always receive the funding they deserve.”

 

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March 19, 2026

Historically Black Land-Grant Universities Celebrate USDA Agreement as ‘Big Win’​

Leaders of historically Black land-grant universities are celebrating—and breathing a sigh of relief—after they signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this month to reaffirm and deepen their collaboration with the federal agency.
The USDA has signed such agreements with these institutions since Ronald Reagan—often at the start of a new administration—but the new memorandum of understanding reassures the universities’ leaders that the Trump administration will continue to support and work with their institutions, said Harry Williams, CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which represents public HBCUs.
Felecia M. Nave, president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation, which advocates for historically Black land-grant institutions, said the MOU “builds on prior efforts while placing a stronger emphasis on ensuring that our work is not just symbolic, but truly actionable.”

The agreement reaffirms the “critical role we play in advancing this administration’s America First agenda, particularly through its recognition of the importance of agriculture to our nation’s economic strength, food security, and long-term sustainability,” she wrote to Inside Higher Ed. “Our work is not on the margins; it is at the core of the issues that shape our country’s future.”
In the agreement, the USDA committed to exploring opportunities for historically Black land-grant faculty and administrators to work within and contribute their expertise to the department. The department will also continue its network of USDA liaisons on campuses with the goal of “providing regional support” to the universities and “increasing the number of students in the areas of food, agricultural science, natural resources, environmental sciences, and other agriculture-related fields.”
Notably, the agreement re-establishes a task force of department officials and historically Black land-grant university presidents who meet at least twice a year to discuss ways to strengthen the institutions and their historic missions. These 19 universities gained land-grant status under the Second Morrill Act of 1890 to ensure Black Americans had access to agricultural and technical sciences education.

“This MOU serves as a vehicle to actualize and strengthen the work and partnerships between our institutions and the initiatives supported by USDA,” Nave said. “It ensures that collaboration is not only sustained, but also more intentional, coordinated and results-driven.”
Ericke S. Cage, president of West Virginia State University and chair of the Council of 1890 University Presidents, said the agreement came through after months of advocacy. The main advantage of having it in place is it provides a “formalized platform” to “engage directly with the USDA.”
“This will provide a forum for us to raise up issues that are of significance, of importance, to our 1890 institutions and to find alignment and opportunities within the priorities and funding resources that USDA currently has available,” Cage said. “So, I think that’s the big win.”

Hopes for the Future​

Historically Black land-grant university leaders hope that the refreshed line of communication will help them to secure more funding and opportunities for their students.
Cage said institutions like his need more funds to devote to campus infrastructure at a time when they struggle with deferred maintenance backlogs but want to invest in new technology and research to support American agriculture. For example, West Virginia State University is interested in research on how AI and cybersecurity measures could protect farmers’ online operations.

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More infrastructure funding would help “ensure that our researchers and our students are able to certainly work in best-in-class facilities, which will help us to drive innovations that we can deploy out in the field and help our farmers and our ranchers do the important work that they do,” Cage said. “We believe that our institutions are well positioned to help tackle the problem of global food insecurity.”
Williams, of TMCF, hopes the task force can help advocate for the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, legislation lawmakers plan to revive after it didn’t pass in 2022, though language from it made it into former president Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus bill. IGNITE would create a competitive grant process to fund upgrades to HBCU campus facilities and equipment.
Infrastructure money is particularly important to historically Black land-grant institutions after decades of chronic underfunding, Williams said. States are supposed to match federal grants for food and agriculture research to land-grant universities dollar for dollar but historically often neglected to do so for 1890s institutions.
The secretaries of education and agriculture under President Biden concluded that 16 historically Black land-grant institutions were underfunded by their states a total of $13 billion over three decades and called on governors to pay up. Trump’s executive order in support of HBCUs, signed last spring, also committed to “encouraging states to provide the required state matching funds for 1890 Land-Grant Institutions.”
Some states have since partially or fully made up for the missing dollars, but closing the remaining funding gaps will be a “top” priority, Williams said.

An Improving Relationship​

Historically Black land-grant universities and the Trump administration arguably got off to a rocky start last year when the USDA temporarily suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, which provides federal scholarships to agriculture students at their institutions. But within days, after fierce backlash from lawmakers and higher ed leaders, the federal agency reinstated the program and reopened applications.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins praised the program in a January call for applications.
“Now more than ever we need to encourage our young people to join the noble and fulfilling profession of farming and feeding our fellow citizens,” Rollins said in a statement. “President Trump has made it a priority to promote excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and USDA is proud to further these efforts through this important program.”
Cage hopes, through the task force, university leaders can secure more opportunities for their students, whether that’s an expansion of the 1890 Scholars Program or new internships at the USDA. He acknowledged “some initial challenges” under the Trump administration—including some temporary disruptions to his institution’s federal funds for purported ties to DEI—but said the USDA has since proved a “supportive partner.”
“What I can say is that the department and the administration have been responsive to our concerns,” he said, noting that new federal money flowed to HBCUs in the fall and his previously suspended funds were restored after conversations with department officials and lawmakers. “Are there areas where we want to see some more support? Sure. But I think, in general, it’s been a pretty positive relationship.”