Washington, D.C.–The leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—the coalition representing Asian Pacific American, Hispanic, and Black lawmakers—have issued a sharp rebuke following reports that the Trump administration is terminating federal grants for hundreds of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) across the country.
In a joint statement released, Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), condemned the move as “reckless,” “unconscionable,” and “an attack on equal access to education.”
The grants in question support a wide range of MSIs, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). These colleges and universities play a critical role in serving low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented student populations.
“Higher education is a critical pathway to economic opportunity,” the Tri-Caucus leaders said. “By terminating grants for certain MSIs, the Trump administration is sowing division and denying students of color the opportunities they need to succeed. We won’t stand for it.”
The lawmakers allege that the decision is part of a broader effort by the administration to divert public funds away from education and toward tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. They warn that the loss of funding will devastate institutions that already operate on limited resources and will have long-term consequences for students and the economy.
“This is just the latest attack in the administration’s crusade to dismantle our public education system and destroy the very policies that ensure equal access to learning,” the statement continued.
The Tri-Caucus vowed to fight back against the policy change, invoking the legacy of past civil rights movements and affirming their commitment to educational equity.
“We will continue fighting so that every student, no matter where they come from or how much their parents make, can achieve the American Dream. The future of our country depends on it.”
