President Trump Suggests That Funding HBCUs Is Unconstitutional
Remember that really silly photo op of the HBCU Presidents meeting with Donald Trump (and aged avocado Kellyanne Conway) in the White House to discuss HBCU funding?
Well if you had any doubt at all that it meant absolutely nothing, then here’s your proof. The Washington Post is reporting that YOUR Crusty Cheeto Head Commander In Chief is wondering if funding a program that helps historically black colleges and universities get loans for construction violates the constitution. Rut roh…
“The White House released a signing statement connected to the recently approved federal funding measure. Tucked away in the last paragraph, the White House announced that it would treat a program that helps HBCUs get low-cost construction loans “in a manner consistent with the (Constitutional) requirement to afford equal protection of the laws.”
People in higher education circles worried that the statement meant that the president was planning to get rid of a capital financing program that helps historically black colleges repair, renovate and build new facilities.
Congress approved the program in 1992 after finding that “HBCUs often face significant challenges in accessing traditional funding resources at reasonable rates,” according to the Education Department.
SMH.
The United Negro College Fund is who initially noticed Trump’s wording about HBCUs, but according to them they’re not worried—-yet anyway.
“We’re not overly alarmed at this point, based on informal reassurances and just our own knowledge of how these funding statement get put together,” Cheryl L. Smith, UNCF senior vice president of public policy and government affairs, told The Washington Post.
We sincerely hope Trump doesn’t make any policy changes that affect our beloved HBCUs. It’s clear he and his constituents don’t value them.
AP Photo/ Evan Vucci
