Overview
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indefinitely suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, affecting students at 19 historically Black land-grant universities.
- The program, established in 1992, provided full tuition, room, and board to students pursuing degrees in agriculture and related fields.
- The suspension coincides with a broader funding freeze under the Trump administration to assess alignment with executive orders on diversity and climate policies.
- In fiscal year 2024, the USDA allocated $19.2 million to the program, supporting 94 students, many of whom now face educational and financial uncertainty.
- The Congressional Black Caucus has condemned the suspension, calling it a setback for underserved communities and urging its reinstatement before the March 1 application deadline.