Trump's budget cuts threaten survival of tribal colleges

In early 2025, President Donald Trump proposed a budget that significantly reduces federal funding for tribal colleges and universities across the United States. This proposal includes the complete elimination of over $13 million in annual appropriations for the Institute for American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This would mark the first time in nearly 40 years that the congressionally chartered college, which has been a vital educational institution for Native American students, would receive no federal support. Robert Martin, the president of IAIA, expressed his disbelief at the cuts, noting that the college has provided affordable education and nurtured the talents of many renowned Native artists and cultural figures. Many students and faculty members at tribal colleges share Martin's concern. Junior Breana Brave Heart mentioned her fears regarding the future of her education at IAIA, prompting students to organize efforts to contact lawmakers to advocate for maintaining funding. As colleges face threats from the Trump administration, they argue that such cuts undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as trust responsibilities and treaty rights owed to tribal nations. Critics, including Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, labeled these budget cuts as a betrayal of commitments to Native communities. The budget proposal reflects broader implications for tribal education, particularly as the Interior Department plans to cut funding for Bureau of Indian Education post-secondary programs by over 80%. Tribal colleges depend heavily on federal assistance to provide tuition-free education for tribal citizens. The ramifications of these proposed reductions are significant, as many students fear the impact on their educational opportunities. The effort to reallocate federal funds has also been tied to a broader trend where the Trump administration employs various tactics to challenge elite universities, including delaying federal grants and releasing directives that can undermine universities' tax-exempt statuses. The administration's targeting of institutions like Harvard University due to accusations of ideological bias highlights a growing conflict over educational funding at the national level. With over a million international students from various backgrounds enrolled in U.S. colleges, the fight over funding could reshape the landscape of higher education in the country.