Hirono, Colleagues, Advocates Slam Trump Administration’s Attacks on Education, Minority Students

Full video of the press conference is available HERE | Photos are available HERE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) held a bicameral press conference calling out the Trump Administration's attacks on Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). There are currently over 800 MSIs across the country that serve more than five million students. Senator Hirono was joined by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Vice Chair Mark Takano (D-CA), Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA) of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), national education advocates, and MSI students to raise alarms about the Administration's deliberate attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and defund MSI programs created by Congress.

"Forty years ago, Congress created MSI programs on a bipartisan basis, recognizing the hardships many minority groups have faced in higher education. But this regime is not interested in helping millions of students get degrees," said Senator Hirono. "Under the false pretense of addressing discrimination, Donald Trump is doing all he can to undermine the Department of Education. But we're fighting back to ensure Congress continues funding these critical programs."

Since the beginning of his administration, Trump has targeted programs that support students across the country, especially ones that serve low-income and first-generation students and students of color. In September, ED announced that $350 million in federal funding would be redirected from MSIs to other programs. The Trump Administration followed this up in December, announcing that they would be "winding down" MSI programs moving forward.

"With 179 Hispanic-Serving Institutions in California alone, we've seen firsthand how these schools expand opportunity, strengthen our workforce, and power our economy. Undermining them isn't just wrong-it's a direct threat to millions of students and to our nation's future," said Senator Padilla. "As Chair of the Senate HSI Caucus, I will use every tool at my disposal to defend these institutions, the students they serve, and the workforce they help build."

"More than five million students across HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges, and AANAPISIs are at risk of losing funding because of Donald Trump and Linda McMahon. As a former teacher and community college trustee, I am outraged by this Administration's cruelty. We should be investing in these students and the institutions that serve them-not eliminating the very programs that make their education possible," said Representative Takano.

"Since taking office, Trump has demonized the diversity that makes this country strong. Minority Serving Institutions and Hispanic Serving Institutions are in the line of fire. This Administration is trying to destroy MSIs and HSIs. It's an attack on our students and it's an attack on our colleges and universities. By ending decades of federal support, this Administration is taking away education opportunities and ultimately weakening our communities. We're going to continue to fight to protect MSIs and HSIs," said Representative Vargas. "We're on the right side of history, and that's why we need to continue to push. I'm grateful to Senator Hirono for bringing us all together today to speak out on this critical issue."

"Predominantly Black Institutions and other Minority Serving Institutions open the doors of higher education to low-income students and students of color whom historically have had more limited educational opportunities," said Representative Davis. "Congress categorically rejected the Trump Administration's effort to eliminate funding for MSIs by continuing to fund - and even increasing - grants for these institutions in FY26. I proudly join with Senator Hirono and my colleagues to protect these grants that are essential to equal educational opportunity for about one-third of all undergraduate students."

Senator Hirono outlined the widespread impact MSIs have across the country-in red and blue states alike. There are 13 MSI across the state of Hawaii, including all 10 of the University of Hawaii campuses. Texas is home to 174 MSIs, serving over 2.2 million students. Eliminating funding from these institutions could have dire consequences nationwide.

"AANAPISIs, along with all MSIs, are the backbone of American higher education, and they have proven infrastructures that advance retention, completion, and workforce preparation for many first-generation and low-income students," said Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, President of APAHE."AANAPISIs comprise only 7.1 percent of all colleges and universities, yet enroll nearly half of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) undergraduates. They award 51 percent of the associate's degrees and 44 percent of the bachelor's degrees attained by all AANHPI college students."

"When PBIs are funded, Black or African American students achieve degrees at more than 4x the number at other institutions. MSI funding - a historically bipartisan issue - supports institutions that serve students of many backgrounds, but who all emerge from communities historically excluded from higher education. These essential funds are an investment in America's future; when these graduates succeed, we all benefit from their contributions to a stronger, more intellectually advanced society," said Dr. Carlota Ocampo, Provost of Trinity Washington University

"Hispanic-Serving Institutions expand opportunity and open doors for millions of students across this country," said Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "Efforts to dismantle these programs, whether through budget cuts or through the courts are a direct attack on educational equity. LatinoJustice will continue to defend these programs and the communities that depend on them."

"My family's story is not unique-it reflects what is possible when we invest in Minority-Serving Institutions. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, I saw firsthand how community colleges and MSIs provided my parents with the tools to rebuild their lives and create opportunities for the next generation. If we want today's students-especially those from immigrant, refugee, and low-income backgrounds-to succeed, we must protect and expand these critical pathways through sustained federal investment," said Quyen Dinh, Executive Director as the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

"Minority Serving Institutions, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), are foundational in giving minority students an equitable springboard to success," said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC. "AANAPISIs enroll over 40% of the nation's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduates. MSIs are critical to ensuring that opportunity to higher education reaches the most vulnerable and underserved communities. Congress made a clear commitment to invest in MSIs, and the administration must deliver those funds as intended."

For the past year, Senator Hirono has fighting back against the Trump Administration's attacks on public education. One year after ED fired nearly half of its workforce, Senator Hirono held a press conference highlighting how the Administration has shortchanged students. Senator Hirono has hosted five spotlight forums, bringing together educators, students, administrators, advocates, and experts, to demonstrate the widespread consequences of ED rollbacks. In February, she highlighted ED's efforts to dismantle support for over 800 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that serve over five million students nationwide. In December, her forum covered the Trump Administration's illegal attacks on federal programs. In September, she highlighted the cuts to student loans. In July, her forum spotlighted federal funding being withheld from K-12 public education programs. In June, she raised alarms about widespread cuts public education would face from the Big Ugly Bill. In the meantime, she has also held stakeholder roundtables and pushed for legislation that would protect federal education programs, including during the consideration of the Big Ugly Bill.

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