Trump’s Proposed Budget Slashes Funding for Tribal Colleges and Native Education Programs

May 12, 2025

WASHINGTON — Tribal leaders and Native education advocates are raising alarms after former President Donald Trump proposed sharp funding cuts to tribal colleges and Indigenous education programs in his 2025 budget plan, released as part of his campaign platform.

The proposed budget would eliminate funding for several key programs within the Department of Education, including the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, and the Title VI Indian Education program, which supports Native students in K–12 schools. Trump's plan also targets cuts to Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools, which serve roughly 46,000 Native students across the country.

“This would devastate Native communities,” said Cheryl Crazy Bull, president of the American Indian College Fund. “Tribal colleges are the backbone of Indigenous education, economic development, and language preservation.”

Trump’s team argues the cuts are part of a broader effort to streamline federal education spending and reduce what they call “duplicative programs.” However, critics say the proposed reductions would exacerbate already dire disparities in Native education and violate the federal government’s trust responsibilities to tribal nations.

According to a 2023 report from the National Congress of American Indians, Native students have among the lowest high school and college graduation rates in the country. Tribal colleges—many of which operate in remote, economically challenged areas—play a vital role in improving access to education and community services.

The budget blueprint also revives concerns from Trump’s first term, during which he proposed similar reductions. Although Congress ultimately blocked many of those cuts, Native leaders say the renewed threat shows a lack of long-term commitment to Indigenous education.

“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” said Rebecca Tsosie, a professor of law and Native scholar. “They are people, families, and futures.”

Congress has yet to respond to the proposal, but Democratic leaders have signaled strong opposition. Meanwhile, tribal leaders are urging community members to contact lawmakers and advocate for full funding of Native education programs.