Trump redirects funds to some universities

The Trump administration is redirecting nearly $500 million in federal funding toward historically Black colleges and tribal colleges, a onetime investment covered primarily by cuts to other colleges serving large numbers of minority students.

- By Coin BINKLEY

THE CHANGE will benefit historically Black schools such as Howard University.

The Education Department announced the funding boost days after cutting $350 million from other grants, mostly from programs for colleges that have large numbers of Latino students. Agency leaders said those grants were unconstitutional because they’re available only to colleges with certain minority enrollment thresholds.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the changes will redirect money away “from ineffective and discriminatory programs toward those which support student success.”

“The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education,” McMahon said in a statement.