Rep. Juan Vargas Slams Trump Admin Attacks on Minority Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA-52) joined U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), national education advocates, and students to raise the alarm about the Trump Administration's deliberate attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and defund Minority Serving Institution (MSI) programs created by Congress.

There are over 800 MSIs that serve more than five million students. Even though Congress has funded MSI programs across the nation for decades, the Administration's proposed FY 2027 budget eliminates funding for MSI programs, which would impact schools across the country, including many higher education institutions in San Diego County.

Watch Rep. Vargas's remarks HERE.

"Since taking office, Trump has targeted the diversity that helps make our country strong, and Minority Serving Institutions, including Hispanic Serving Institutions, are paying the price. Trump's plan to end decades of federal support for these programs is an attack on our students, colleges, and universities," said Rep. Juan Vargas. "We're going to continue to fight to protect these programs. We're on the right side of history, and that's why we need to continue to push."

Since taking office, Trump has targeted programs that support students across the country, especially ones that serve low-income and first-generation students and MSIs. 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.

Rep. Vargas leads an annual appropriations letter in support of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

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