Nationwide — President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order this week to create a White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a move that signals positive intentions but falls short of making any actual financial commitment. While the initiative is now housed within the Executive Office of the President, and its mission includes expanding partnerships and student preparation for high-growth industries, many education leaders say the lack of new federal funding raises questions about how much impact the effort will really have.According to Diverse, the order outlines plans to support private-sector collaboration, institutional development, and career readiness in fields like technology, healthcare, and finance. It also establishes a President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs under the Department of Education. However, there is still no designated leader for the initiative, and critics are wary of its substance without a corresponding funding pledge.
“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. Dr. Marybeth Gasman, a leading HBCU scholar at Rutgers University, acknowledged the gesture but noted a glaring omission. “Trump’s Executive Order acknowledges the importance of HBCUs, but what is missing is any commitment to new federal funding,” she said. “The Biden Administration, by contrast, invested $1.6 billion within a week of its executive order.”
The White House touted the economic and social contributions of HBCUs, including their $16.5 billion annual economic impact and their role in educating nearly 300,000 students per year. Officials also pointed to Trump’s earlier signing of the FUTURE Act, which secured $255 million in annual funding, and his support for increasing Pell Grant allocations. Still, observers argue that new action is needed to meet today’s growing demand for HBCU resources.
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,” he said. He stressed that rising enrollment at HBCUs is putting added strain on campus infrastructure, and real progress will be measured in the 2026 federal budget process.
The executive order does commit to an annual White House HBCU Summit, which will aim to strengthen collaboration and elevate institutional priorities. But 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.