Trump Proposes Nearly 90% Cut to Tribal College Funding in 2026 Budget

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s 2026 budget proposes up to 90% cuts in tribal colleges and Native education funding.
• Mass layoffs and scholarship freezes already impact Haskell and SIPI tribal institutions.
• Native American Rights Fund challenges cuts legally, citing treaty and federal law violations.

President Trump’s 2026 Budget Proposal: Tribal Colleges Face Deepest Cuts in Decades

In early May 2025, President Trump released his fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, calling for sweeping reductions to federal funding for tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and other Native American programs. The proposed cuts, which approach 90% for some education-related programs, have already triggered mass layoffs, scholarship freezes, and legal challenges from Native students and tribal leaders. The proposal is not yet law, but its immediate and potential long-term effects have sent shockwaves through tribal communities across the United States 🇺🇸.

Who is affected? Native American students, tribal colleges, and their communities are at the center of this crisis. What is happening? The Trump administration is seeking to slash funding for key education and housing programs. When? The budget proposal was released in May 2025, with some layoffs and service disruptions already underway. Where? The cuts impact tribal colleges and Native programs nationwide, including major institutions like Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. Why? The administration says it aims to reduce federal spending and shift responsibilities to states. How? By proposing deep cuts, eliminating programs, and issuing executive orders that have led to mass layoffs.

Let’s break down the details, the immediate fallout, and what the future may hold for tribal colleges, Native students, and the broader Native American community.

The Scope of the Proposed Cuts

President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 “skinny budget” proposes some of the most severe reductions in federal support for Native education in recent history. Here’s a look at the numbers:

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Cut from $1.2 billion to $220 million, an 82% reduction.
• TRIO and GEAR UP programs: Both eliminated, a 100% cut. These programs help low-income and first-generation college students, including many Native Americans.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Budget drops from $2.91 billion to $2.18 billion, a 25% reduction.
• Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Construction: Faces a $187 million cut, eliminating funding for new tribal school construction.
• Indian Housing Block Grants: Cut by 22%, from $1.12 billion to $872 million.
• Pell Grant (maximum award): Reduced from $7,395 to $5,710, a 23% cut. More than half of Native students rely on Pell Grants.

Immediate effects are already being felt. At Haskell Indian Nations University, over a quarter of staff have been laid off, 34 courses lost instructors, and the Student Success Center has closed. At Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI), 20 faculty and staff were dismissed in a single day, disrupting tutoring and financial aid processing. Many students are still waiting for their financial aid as of March 2025.

Legal Action: Native American Rights Fund Leads the Fight

The proposed cuts have not gone unchallenged. Native students and tribal leaders, represented by the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration. They argue that the cuts violate federal treaty obligations and laws that require the government to support tribal education and consult with tribes before making major changes.

Key Legal Arguments

• Violation of Treaty Obligations: Many treaties between the United States 🇺🇸 and tribal nations promise federal support for education. Legal experts, like Matthew Fletcher from the University of Michigan Law School, stress that this funding is a trust responsibility, not optional spending.
• Breach of Federal Law: Laws such as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975) require federal support for tribal education and self-governance. Plaintiffs argue that the administration’s failure to consult with tribes before making cuts is illegal.
• Ongoing Lawsuits: Cases have been filed in U.S. District Court, with NARF and other legal groups representing tribal nations and students. The lawsuits challenge the legality of staff reductions and funding cuts, citing specific laws like 25 U.S.C. § 2011 and 25 CFR § 32.4.

NARF’s position is clear: The federal government cannot simply walk away from its promises to Native peoples. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these legal challenges could result in court orders blocking some of the cuts if judges find that treaty or legal obligations have been violated.

The Budget Process: What Happens Next?

It’s important to remember that President Trump’s budget proposal is just that—a proposal. It is not law until Congress reviews, amends, and passes appropriations bills.

Step-by-Step Budget Timeline

1. President Submits Budget: The Trump administration sent the proposal to Congress in May 2025.
2. Congressional Review: Committees in the House and Senate will review, debate, and likely amend the budget over the summer.
3. Final Appropriations: Congress must pass final spending bills before the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2025.

Key lawmakers from both parties have already said the proposal is incomplete and will be heavily negotiated. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Chickasaw Nation, has stated that changes are expected.

Executive Orders and Departmental Changes

On February 11, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14210 (90 FR 9670), which started large-scale federal staffing reductions. This order led to mass layoffs at BIE-run institutions, including Haskell and SIPI. The Department of Education has also begun winding down, with nearly half its staff laid off in March 2025. The administration plans to shift education responsibilities to states and local governments.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended these moves as part of a plan to “responsibly wind down” the Department of Education. Critics, however, argue that this approach leaves tribal colleges and Native students without the support they need.

Real-World Impact: Students and Communities in Crisis

The effects of these cuts are not just numbers on a page—they are already disrupting lives and communities.

At Haskell Indian Nations University

• Staff Layoffs: Over a quarter of staff dismissed.
• Course Cancellations: 34 courses lost instructors.
• Student Services: The Student Success Center closed, and financial aid disbursements have been delayed.

At Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI)

• Layoffs: 20 faculty and staff let go in a single day.
• Support Disrupted: Tutoring and financial aid processing interrupted.
• Scholarship Freezes: Many students have lost tuition waivers and scholarships, making it hard to stay in school.

Broader Effects

• School Construction Halted: The elimination of BIE construction funding means no new tribal schools will be built, even though many existing buildings are in poor condition.
• Loss of Housing Support: Cuts to Indian Housing Block Grants threaten affordable housing for Native families.
• Erosion of Opportunity: With Pell Grants and other aid slashed, many low-income and first-generation Native students may not be able to afford college.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Voices from the Front Lines

Tribal Leaders and Students

Tribal leaders and students have expressed deep fear and anger over the loss of educational opportunities and support systems. Representatives from the Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes, and individual students like Kaiya Brown are plaintiffs in the lawsuits. They argue that the cuts threaten the future of their communities and violate long-standing promises.

Trump Administration

The Trump administration justifies the cuts as efforts to reduce federal spending, eliminate what it calls “woke” and “inefficient” programs, and return control to states and local entities. Officials say these changes are necessary for fiscal responsibility.

Congressional Leaders

Congressional responses are mixed. Some Republicans support the cuts, while others—including Native American lawmakers—have raised concerns and called for further review. The final outcome will depend on negotiations in Congress and the results of ongoing legal challenges.

Historical Context: A Legacy of Underfunding

Tribal colleges have faced chronic underfunding for decades. Investigative reporting by ProPublica found that TCUs were underfunded by $250 million each year even before the current cuts. The federal trust responsibility to support tribal education is rooted in treaties and laws like the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Despite these obligations, funding has often fallen short.

The Trump administration’s current proposals represent an escalation of previous efforts to reduce federal spending on Native programs. However, the scale and abruptness of these cuts are unprecedented.

Policy Implications and Long-Term Consequences

Immediate Effects

• Mass layoffs at tribal colleges and universities.
• Closure of student support centers and delays in financial aid.
• Loss of scholarships and tuition waivers for Native students.
• Elimination of funding for new tribal school construction.

Long-Term Risks

• Further erosion of educational opportunities for Native students, who already face barriers to higher education.
• Undermining of federal trust and treaty obligations, leading to more legal and political conflict.
• Increased reliance on tribal, state, or private resources, which are not enough to fill the gap left by federal cuts.

Dave Castillo of Native Community Capital warns that eliminating competitive housing grants undermines the intent of self-determination and innovation in tribal housing. Without federal support, many tribal colleges may struggle to survive.

Legal and Political Outlook

The future of tribal college funding now depends on two main factors:

1. Congressional Negotiations: The budget proposal will be debated and likely changed before any final spending bills are passed.
2. Legal Outcomes: Lawsuits led by the Native American Rights Fund could result in court orders blocking some cuts if judges find violations of treaty or legal obligations.

If Congress restores funding or courts rule in favor of the plaintiffs, some of the most damaging cuts could be reversed. If not, the consequences for tribal colleges and Native students could be severe and long-lasting.

What Can Stakeholders Do Now?

• Stay Informed: Follow updates from official sources like the Bureau of Indian Education and the Native American Rights Fund.
• Contact Lawmakers: Tribal leaders, students, and allies can reach out to members of Congress to share their concerns and advocate for restored funding.
• Monitor Legal Developments: The outcome of ongoing lawsuits will shape the future of tribal college funding and federal obligations to Native communities.

Resources for Further Information

• Native American Rights Fund: narf.org
• Bureau of Indian Education: bie.edu
• U.S. Department of Education: ed.gov
• Congressional Appropriations Committees: house.gov and senate.gov
• ProPublica (Investigative Reporting): propublica.org
• PBS NewsHour (Coverage of Tribal Colleges): pbs.org

Actionable Takeaways

• For Students: Check with your college’s financial aid office for updates on scholarships and grants. If you are affected by layoffs or service closures, reach out to student advocacy groups or legal aid organizations.
• For Tribal Leaders: Stay engaged with Congressional negotiations and legal proceedings. Document the impact of cuts on your community to support advocacy and legal efforts.
• For Allies and Advocates: Support organizations like the Native American Rights Fund and contact your representatives to urge protection of tribal college funding.

Conclusion

President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal represents the most severe threat to tribal college funding in decades. With cuts approaching 90% for some programs, the effects are already being felt through layoffs, scholarship freezes, and the closure of student support services. The proposal is not yet law and faces both Congressional negotiation and ongoing legal challenges from tribal nations and students, who argue that these cuts violate longstanding federal trust and treaty obligations. The future of tribal colleges and the educational opportunities for Native students now hinge on the outcomes of these legislative and judicial processes.

For more detailed analysis and ongoing updates, readers can consult resources like the Native American Rights Fund and the Bureau of Indian Education. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the coming months will be critical in determining whether these historic cuts are enacted or reversed, and what that will mean for the future of Native education in the United States 🇺🇸.

Learn Today

Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) → Institutions controlled by Native tribes that provide higher education tailored to their communities.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) → A federal grant assisting low-income college students with educational expenses.
Native American Rights Fund (NARF) → A nonprofit organization providing legal representation to Native peoples on tribal rights issues.
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act → A 1975 law empowering tribes to manage their own education and federal programs.
Pell Grant → Federal financial aid awarded to low-income students to help pay for college tuition costs.

This Article in a Nutshell

President Trump’s 2026 budget proposes drastic cuts to tribal colleges, risking layoffs, scholarship losses, and school closures. Native communities mobilize legally to fight these reductions, emphasizing federal treaty obligations and seeking to protect long-term educational support for tribal students and institutions.
— By VisaVerge.com