Less than a month ago, President Trump signed a new executive order “to promote excellence and innovation at historically Black colleges and universities.” Now, the Trump Administration has proposed to cut the fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) budget of Howard University, the nation’s only federally chartered HBCU, by $64 million.
According to the proposal, the administration has conducted a “rigorous, line-by-line review of FY2025 spending” and determined it was “laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans and tilted toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life.”
As part of the administration’s significant cuts to the Department of Education, the proposal includes a $64 million reduction to Howard University’s FY2026 budget, which would return the HBCU’s federal funding to its FY2021 budget level. The proposal states that Howard’s FY2025 federal allocations “included the conclusion of a one-time $300 million, multi-year federal commitment to the construction of [Howard’s] new hospital.”
In response, Howard University released a statement acknowledging the proposed federal budget cut:
“As a leading HBCU, Howard, has since its founding in 1867, cultivated talent, unlocked opportunity, and contributed mightily to every sector of American life. The university continues to do so as a top-tier Research 1 institution and a leading contributor to social and economic mobility for our graduates.
“We look forward to engaging to sustain the FY 2026 budget to at least the level provided in FY 2025, ensuring the continued advancement of our mission and the legacy of academic excellence that defines Howard University.”
