Trump proposes returning Howard University to 2021 budget levels, with hospital complete


Correction: The Trump administration is proposing ending funding to Howard University related to the construction of a hospital. The information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

The Trump administration is proposing not to renew a $64 million payment to Howard University. The money, a one time payment made to build the Howard University Hospital, is no longer needed with construction complete, the administration said in its budget proposal released Friday.

Howard is the nation’s only federally chartered historically Black college or university (HBCU).

The budget proposal comes days after Trump signed an order establishing a White House initiative on HBCUs to “deliver high-quality education to a growing number of students.” Earlier this week, the president also told  that HBCUs should not be concerned about federal funding cuts to their budgets.

“I got them more money than they ever dreamt possible, and they’re in great shape now,” Trump said, referring to the 2019 bipartisan bill that permanently provides more than $250 million a year to HBCUs.

“They have long-term financing,” he added. “Nobody did that but Donald Trump.”

Still, HBCUs receive significantly less funding than predominantly white institutions. Black land-grant universities have been underfunded by more than $12 billion over the past 30 years, according to a 2022 Forbes analysis. 

The Hill has reached out to the university for comment.

—Updated at 4:25 p.m. EDT

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