In a season where DEI is being dismantled and Black history-American history- is being attached, President Donald Trump is showing his version of support for historically Black colleges and universities.
On Thursday, the president signed his latest executive order that intends to ‘promote excellence and innovation’ at HBCUs. The order in part reads that the administration will continue the work during his first administration and “to elevate the value and impact of our Nation’s HBCUs as beacons of educational excellence and economic opportunity that serve as some of the best cultivators of tomorrow’s leaders in business, government, academia, and the military.”
The order outlines plans to support private-sector collaboration, institutional development, and career readiness in fields like technology, healthcare, manufacturing and finance. It also establishes a President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs under the Department of Education. However it does not the executive order does commit to an annual White House HBCU Summit.
The order comes after a campaign of moves that seemingly go against the president’s pledge.
On his first day in office, Trump rescinded several Biden-era executive orders he labeled as “harmful,” including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The move has sent ripples across the country, prompting universities to reassess their curricula—particularly the way Black history is taught. The administration also announced plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a proposal that could jeopardize the financial aid many HBCU students rely on to afford college.
“The Initiative will work to address barriers to HBCUs receiving certain Federal and state grant dollars,” a White House spokesperson said. But experts say intent alone won’t resolve the funding inequities these schools face.
However higher education advocates remain cautiously optimistic, making it clear that Trump’s words and actions must be backed by actual dollars if the administration hopes to make a lasting difference.
Lodriguez Murray of UNCF emphasized that while the executive order is a step in the right direction, it’s just the beginning. “The executive order is like the appetizer, but the meal is the level of funding—and that’s what we’re looking for,”
