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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, a federal program to support students from underserved and rural areas at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The program paid full tuition and fees for students studying agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences at one of the 19 universities, the 1890 land grant institutions.
The suspension comes amid a funding freeze by President Donald Trump‘s administration.
Funding review
The USDA clarified that this suspension is part of a wider review to ensure spending is in accordance with executive orders on climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The department announced on its website that the program is “suspended pending further review.”
A spokesperson confirmed that “every scholar—over 300—regardless of matriculation date, was retained to finish their studies and complete their work with the Department.”
Program review
Secretary Brooke Rollins will review the scholarship program’s mission and metrics. This is being done to ensure taxpayer resources are being used efficiently.
President Trump’s administration’s funding freeze has already faced legal challenges, resulting in a temporary hold on the executive action.
The universities affected by this suspension include Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, and Alabama’s Tuskegee University among others.
Program details
The 1890 Scholars Program was created in 1992, with “1890” in its name referring to the Second Morrill Act of 1890 which established HBCUs.
To qualify for this scholarship, students must be US citizens with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
They must also have been accepted to one of the 19 universities and demonstrate an interest in agriculture or related fields.
Further, they are required to demonstrate leadership and community service.
Program impact
In October 2024, the USDA had allocated $19.2 million for the 1890 Scholars Program. In fiscal year 2024, 94 students received scholarships under the program.
The suspension of this program has drawn criticism from some members of Congress who first raised their concerns last Thursday.
However, it is still unclear when exactly the program was suspended and how long this review process will take.
