USDA pauses scholarship funds directed toward HBCU students

• The USDA has suspended a scholarship program that helped students from underserved and rural communities pursue their studies at historically Black colleges and universities. The suspension follows a wider funding freeze by the Trump administration.
• Last year, the 1890 Scholars Program, which was established in 1992, awarded $19 million to 94 students.
• The Congressional Black Caucus is asking the Trump administration to resume funding for the program by its March 1 application deadline.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended its scholarship program for students from underserved and rural communities who want to study at historically Black colleges and universities. The suspension follows a wider funding freeze by the Trump administration, which has been challenged in court and is currently on a temporary hold.

The 1890 Scholars Program, which was established in 1992, places students at 19 historically Black colleges and universities, where they can study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences and related fields. The universities are part of what is collectively known as the 1890 land grant institutions.

The program’s suspension was first made public Thursday, Feb. 20, after members of Congress began issuing statements about it.

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clark, D-N.Y., said, “For decades, this program has been vital to the success of the agriculture industry, and CBC has championed this historic and bipartisan program to open doors to talented students from underserved communities.”  

The CBC is asking President Donald Trump to resume funding for the program by its March 1 application deadline.

While the USDA has not yet commented on the scholarship’s pause, a spokesperson for the agency did tell The Hill that students currently enrolled in the program will be able to complete their studies.

“To be clear, every scholar — over 300 — regardless of matriculation date, was retained to finish their studies and complete their work with the Department,” the spokesperson said. “In line with President Trump’s directive, USDA is optimizing operations and strengthening its ability to serve farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture community. Like other programs within the Department, Secretary Rollins will continue to review the 1890 National Scholars Program, its mission, and its metrics to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer resources.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, called the pause “another egregious attack on fairness and opportunity,” adding, “Freezing a scholarship program for students from rural and underserved communities to study agriculture punishes talented students and hurts our future.”

In 2024, The 1890 Scholars Program awarded $19 million to 94 students.