The Trump administration has renewed its push to strip federal funding from tribal colleges, triggering alarm across Native American communities and setting up a fresh political clash in Congress.

Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget would cut billions from programmes tied to treaty obligations, with leaders warning the move could dismantle higher education access for Indigenous students.

Colleges Face ‘Existential’ Threat

At the centre of the proposal is the elimination of funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts, alongside sweeping cuts to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

Advocates say the impact would be immediate and devastating. “Our TCUs would be forced to close within a year,” warned Ahniwake Rose, pointing to institutions already operating on thin margins.

Students Caught in Funding Crossfire

The budget also targets two federally operated institutions — Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute — both of which were already embroiled in legal battles over previous cuts.

Students there sued federal authorities last year, citing staffing shortages and declining resources. The latest proposal risks deepening those disruptions, raising fears of collapsing services and halted courses.

Treaty Obligations Under Pressure

There are roughly three dozen TCUs across the US, most serving rural and economically strained communities. Many rely heavily on federal funding — not as discretionary support, but as part of long-standing treaty commitments.

Critics argue the proposed cuts would break those obligations, while simultaneously slashing housing, infrastructure and business grants that underpin Native economies.

Congress Set for Showdown

The fight now shifts to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers face mounting pressure to block the cuts. Ben Ray Luján called the proposal a “direct attack on Native communities”.

With similar reductions proposed last year, tribal leaders say patience is wearing thin. Without intervention, they warn, the consequences will be swift — and irreversible.

For second time, Trump seeks to eliminate federal funding for tribal colleges and universities

Gut education funding, we got a military to support! s/