White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs

DateIssued:April23,2025

Topic:Education

WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?

ThisexecutiveorderestablishestheWhiteHouseInitiativeonHistorically BlackCollegesandUniversities(HBCUs).Theinitiativewillbehousedin theexecutivebranchandledbyanExecutiveDirectordesignatedbythe President.

Theinitiativeaimstoincreasetheprivate-sectorrole,includingtherole ofprivatefoundations,insupportingHBCUsininstitutionalplanningand development,financialmanagement,andupgradingandmaintaining institutionalinfrastructureandaccesstotechnology.

Additionally,theorderarticulatesanaimtoprovideprofessional developmentopportunitiesforHBCUstudentsintheareasoftechnology, healthcare,manufacturing,finance,andother“high-growth”industries.

Theorderalsoarticulatesacommitmenttosupportingthe implementationoftheHBCUPartnersAct,whichcodifiesthePresident’s BoardofAdvisorsonHBCUs.Historically,thisboardofadvisorsoffersan avenueforInstitutionstopromotepolicyconcernsandprioritieswiththe federalgovernment.

Theorderalsoarticulatesacommitmenttothefollowing:

Facilitatingpublic-privateandphilanthropicpartnershipstopromote researchandprogramsatHBCSUsandbuildpipelinesforK-12 studentswhomaybeinterestedinattendingHBCUs;

Enhancingthequalityandaccessibilityofinformationregarding HBCUsinthepublicpolicyspace;

Addressingcollegeaffordability,degreeattainmentandcampus modernization;

EncouragingStatestoprovidetherequiredStatematchingfundsfor 1890Land-Grantinstitutions.

Lastly,theorderrevokestheBidenadministration’sWhiteHouseInitiative onAdvancingEducationalEquity,Excellence,andEconomicOpportunity.

HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?

TheWhiteHouse-appointedexecutivedirectorwillcollaboratewiththe DepartmentofAgricultureandStategovernmentstoestablisha frameworkforimprovingaccesstoFederalfundingforHBCUs.

TheexecutivedirectorwillalsoconveneanannualWhiteHouseSummit onHBCUstoaddressissuesrelatedtotheinitiative’smission.

AgencyandDepartmentheadswillassistandprovideinformationtothe initiativewhennecessaryforcarryingouttheinitiative’smissionusing theirowndepartmentalfunds.

TheDepartmentofEducationwillprovidefundingandadministrative supporttothePresidentialBoardofAdvisors.

TheexecutivedirectorwillsubmitannualreportstothePresident highlightingtheFederalGovernmentsimpactonHBCUsandoffering recommendationstoimprove.

TheAdministratoroftheEnvironmentalProtectiveAgencywillterminate theHistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversitiesandMinorityServing InstitutionsAdvisoryCouncilwithin14daysofthedateoftheorder.

HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?

Whiletheexecutiveorderpresentsitselfasarenewedcommitmentto HBCUs,therevocationofpriorDEI-focusedinitiativesraisesquestions abouttheadministration'sapproachtoeducationalequity.

Relatedly,therecentordertoshuttertheDepartmentofEducation highlightstheadministration’sinconsistentandoftencontradictory stanceonhowbesttoserveBlackstudents,underminingthe Department’slongstandingroleinaddressingracialdisparities,enforcing civilrightsprotections,andsupportinghistoricallyunderserved communities.

TheinitiativeaimstobolsterHBCUs'capabilities,potentiallyleadingto improvededucationaloutcomesandincreasedopportunitiesforBlack students.

Theemphasisonprivate-sectorinvolvementandworkforcedevelopment alignswithbroadereconomicgoalsbutmayoverlooktheimportanceof addressingsystemicbarriersfacedbyBlackstudents.

HousingtheinitiativewithintheExecutiveOfficemayreducethe autonomyofeducationalinstitutionsandagenciestraditionallyinvolved insupportingHBCUs.

Despitetheissuanceoftheexecutiveorder,PresidentTrumprecently proposeda$65millionfundingcuttoHowardUniversity,theonlyfederally charteredHBCU.Thereductionrollsfundingbackto2021levels,potentially underminingtheveryinnovationandsustainabilitytheorderpurportsto support.

Theorder'simpactonBlackAmericanswilldependonitsimplementation andtheextenttowhichitgenuinelyaddressestheneedsandchallenges ofHBCUsandtheirstudents.

MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havedemonstrateda longstandingcommitmenttoadvancingequityineducationandsupporting HBCUs.Recently,CBCmembersconvenedaroundtablediscussiononthe stateofHBCUsincollaborationwithHBCUleadership,studentsandadvocacy organizations.SelectmemberstatementsonthestateofHBCUsarefeatured below.

Rep.SydneyKamlager-Dove(CA-37),CBCWhip:

“OurHBCUscontinueto facesystemicchallengesthatimpactstudentsuccess,campusqualityof-life,andinstitutionalgrowth.Shamefully,theTrumpAdministration’s attacksonDEIinitiativesandhighereducationfundinghaveonlymade thesechallengesworse”FullStatement

Rep.AlmaS.Adam,PhD(NC-12),FounderandCo-ChairofHBCU Caucus:“Iwelcomeallandeveryinitiativetosupportournation’s HistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversitiesbecausesupportingHBCUsis notapartisanissue,”saidCongresswomanAdams.“HBCUsarecentersof achievement,excellence,andsuccess,andhavealwayspunchedabove theirweight,eveninthefaceofhistoricunderfunding.”FullStatement