April 28, 2025 Story by: Editor
President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order this week establishing a White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), positioning the program within the Executive Office of the President to enhance the institutions’ capacity to provide quality education.
The initiative will focus on developing private-sector partnerships, supporting institutional development, and preparing students for high-growth industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance.
It is unclear who will lead the initiative.
“The Initiative will work to address barriers to HBCUs receiving certain Federal and state grant dollars and to improve their competitiveness for R&D funding,” said a White House spokesperson.
The order says it aims to promote excellence and innovation at HBCUs, by establishing a White House initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide high-quality education and prepare students for careers in high-demand fields such as technology, healthcare, and finance. It also creates a board of advisers on HBCUs which will report to the president and guide federal policy and foster new partnerships. The order calls to make the board up of leaders from education, business, philanthropy, and current HBCU presidents.
The order also establishes the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs within the Department of Education, comprising leaders from various sectors including philanthropy, education, business, and current HBCU presidents.
Dr. Marybeth Gasman, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University, offered measured support for the initiative.
“On the surface, the Order is a positive step and follows the support of past presidents since its inception under President Jimmy Carter. Trump’s Executive Order acknowledges HBCUs’ essential role in shaping Black leadership, intellect, and economic mobility,” said Gasman, an expert on HBCUs and the co-author of The Power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with Dr. Levon Esters. “However, what is missing is any commitment to new federal funding. We’ll have to see what President Trump does next. Of note, the Biden Administration announced an investment of nearly $1.6 billion in funding within one week of issuing its executive order,” Gasman added.
The White House highlighted that HBCUs serve nearly 300,000 students annually and generate $16.5 billion in economic impact while supporting over 136,000 jobs nationwide.
The White House said that the executive order builds on Trump’s previous support for HBCUs during his first term, which included signing the FUTURE Act that secured $255 million in permanent annual funding for these institutions and increasing funding for Federal Pell Grants.
The initiative will also convene an annual White House Summit on HBCUs to foster collaboration and address key priorities for their success.
However, the executive order stops short of committing new federal funding. Previous Trump-era initiatives, including the FUTURE Act, secured permanent annual funding for HBCUs during his first term.
Here are comments from various HBCUs in the D.C. area about the executive order:
Howard University
“The White House Executive Order to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continues a national commitment to and reaffirms the enduring value and essential contributions of these institutions to our nation’s educational, economic, and cultural landscape.
The Executive Order, which returns the White House Initiative on HBCUs to the Executive Office of the President, is essential to the continued elevation of HBCUs as anchors of academic excellence, and engines of social mobility, innovation, and leadership development. The Order also directs federal agencies, private sector partners, and philanthropic organizations to work collaboratively in support of HBCUs.
At Howard, we know the transformative power of these partnerships. Our students, researchers, and faculty are at the leading edge of fields like artificial intelligence, quantum systems, the arts, and neuromedicine. To invest in HBCUs is to invest in the future of American innovation. Reports by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) have consistently demonstrated the transformative impact of HBCUs which generate $16.5 billion in total economic impact annually, and support more than 136,000 jobs across the country.
The full and focused implementation of the President’s executive order will build on this legacy by ensuring that HBCUs are equipped to thrive in the 21st century. From enhancing institutional infrastructure and fiscal sustainability to expanding research capabilities and fostering public-private partnerships, this executive order has the potential to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to prepare the next generation of innovators, public servants, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
This order also centers on student success-supporting affordability, retention, and career readiness-while forging stronger pipelines from K-12 education to college graduation, and ultimately greater economic mobility. According to the UNCF the 51,269 HBCU graduates in 2021 can expect total earnings of $146 Billion-that’s 57% more than they could expect to earn without their college credentials.
HBCUs are national treasures and have always believed in the promise and power of every student. For nearly two centuries, Howard and the collective of HBCUs have cultivated talent, unlocked opportunity, and contributed mightily to every sector of American life. This Executive Order affirms the vital and visionary necessity of our work. We look forward to working with the Administration and public, private, and academic sector partners to realize the full potential of this order.”
Morgan State University
“Morgan State University acknowledges the President’s Executive Order reaffirming support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and welcomes any action that seeks to strengthen the capacity of our institutions to educate, innovate, and lead. The continued prioritization of HBCUs within the federal landscape — particularly through expanded access to funding, research opportunities, and public-private partnerships — is a promising step forward. We remain committed to working collaboratively with national leadership to ensure these efforts translate into tangible, lasting impact for our students, campuses, and communities.”
Bowie State University
“We are grateful for the recent Executive Order by the White House recognizing the excellence of our nation’s more than 100 HBCUs. For 160 years, Bowie State University has fueled the economic engine of our community, and with provisions like the HBCU Partners Act, this order will help Bowie State expand innovation and research that strengthens both the workforce and our region.”
