National News

Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Leader Encouraged by new Executive Order on HBCUs

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, and Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan, Bicameral Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, released a statement following President Trump’s executive order on HBCUs. “I welcome all and every initiative to support our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities because supporting HBCUs is not a partisan issue,” said Congresswoman Adams. “HBCUs are centers of achievement, excellence, and success, and have always punched above their weight, even in the face of historic underfunding.” “In order to win the race in the 21st century to remain

HBCUs are celebrating Trump’s recent order. What will it change?

By Zachary Schermele Even as his administration targets diversity programs in higher education, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. He signed a largely symbolic order on April 23 in the Oval Office that rehouses a long-standing bipartisan presidential initiative on HBCUs at the White House rather than at the U.S. Department of Education. It also maintains a presidential advisory board on HBCUs within the Education Department. The order was celebrated by many HBCUs, including Howard University, where former Vice President Kamala Harris studied and gave her concession speech after she lost her bid

Judges blocks Trump push to cut funding to public schools over diversity programs

By Holly Ramer and Collin Binkley A federal judge on Thursday blocked Trump administration directives that threatened to cut federal funding for public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, which accused the Republican administration of giving “unconstitutionally vague” guidance and violating teachers’ First Amendment rights. A second judge in Maryland on Thursday postponed the effective date of some U.S. Education Department anti-DEI guidance, and a third judge in Washington, D.C., blocked another provision from taking effect. In February, the department told schools and

Black churches back embattled Smithsonian African American history museum after Trump’s order

As he does one day each month, the Rev. Robert Turner hit the road from his home in Baltimore last week and traveled — on foot — 43 miles to Washington. He arrived by evening on April 16 outside the White House, carrying a sign that called for for “Reparations Now.” This time, Turner added another stop on his long day’s journey — the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Turner knelt in prayer and laid a wreath at the entrance of the museum in support of its mission, which incurred President Donald Trump’s criticism alongside other Smithsonian

Trump upends DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, sparking ‘bloodbath’ in senior ranks

By Ken Dilanian The Trump administration has quietly transformed the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, forcing out a majority of career managers and implementing new priorities that current and former officials say abandon a decadeslong mission of enforcing laws that prohibit discrimination in hiring, housing and voting rights. More than a dozen senior lawyers — many with decades of experience working under presidents of both parties — have been reassigned, the current and former officials say. Some have resigned in frustration after they were moved to less desirable roles unrelated to their expertise, according to the sources. “It’s been a complete bloodbath,” said a

Trump signs executive actions on education, including efforts to rein in DEI

By Elissa Nadworny President Trump on Wednesday signed a list of executive actions aimed at both higher education and K-12 schools. One of the actions takes aim at college and university accreditors, organizations the White House says have “abused their authority by imposing discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards.” Another promises new discipline guidance for K-12 schools, with the goal of “ensuring school discipline policies are based on objective behavior, not DEI,” the White House said in a statement. “Today’s Executive Orders pave the way for critical innovations — inviting more competition in the higher education accreditation system, ensuring transparency in college

TMCF thanks President Trump for reaffirming his commitment to HBCUs in executive order

Officials at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) extend appreciation to President Trump for signing an executive order reestablishing the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (White House Initiative) and reinforcing key TMCF policy priorities for the HBCU community. “This executive order serves as strong reaffirmation of President Trump’s support of investment of historically Black colleges and universities,” said TMCF President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams. “This executive order should serve as a call-to-action for corporations, foundations, members of Congress and state lawmakers to redouble their efforts to support HBCUs and their students. TMCF

Professors at Ohio’s only public HBCU worry new higher education law will have a chilling effect

By Megan Henry Professors at Ohio’s only public historically Black university are worried a new controversial higher education law will have a chilling effect on their campus. Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio was originally the Normal and Industrial Department within Wilberforce University, the nation’s oldest private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad. In 1941, the department began to offer four-year degrees, and in 1951 it became independent from Wilberforce as Central State College. In 1965, Central State achieved university status. Members of Central State University American Association of University Professors chapter

Pope Francis lying in state for 3 days ahead of his funeral at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica

By Tucker Reals Pope Francis‘ funeral has been scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. eastern) on Saturday in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced Tuesday, following a meeting of the College of Cardinals at the Catholic Church’s city-state headquarters in the heart of Rome. The coffin carrying the pope, who died Monday morning after suffering a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, was brought in a procession on Wednesday morning to the basilica from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died. The late pontiff will lie in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica for three days ahead of

HBCU Green Fund Launches Bold Earth Day Initiative: Road to Belém — One Struggle, One Future

On Earth Day 2025, the HBCU Green Fund’s Sustainable Africa Future Network convened a powerful virtual gathering of youth leaders from 16 African countries and across the African Diaspora. United under the banner “Road to Belém: One Struggle, One Future (#Road2Belem),” the youth launched a bold Call to Action and announced the launch of a workplan to develop a collective African Youth Climate Justice Statement to present at COP 30 in Belém this November. HBCU Green Fund’s Sustainable Africa Future Network in Dubai during COP28. “As we head toward COP 30 in Belém, African and African Diaspora youth are building a common platform that demands climate equity, economic

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