U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and a group of Senate colleagues have called on the U.S. Department of Education to reverse its decision to end federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The senators addressed their concerns in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, criticizing the department’s reliance on a Department of Justice opinion that deemed MSI programs unconstitutional.
“This decision is yet another example of this Administration attempting to circumvent Congress and its obligations to follow the law,” wrote the Senators. “Unilaterally deciding that long-standing programs are unconstitutional, absent a ruling from the judiciary, sets a dangerous precedent and disrupts needed support that colleges and students rely on.”
The senators challenged the legal basis used by the Department of Justice, which cited a Supreme Court decision about race-based admissions policies. They argued that this precedent does not apply to funding allocations for MSIs because these institutions are evaluated based on student populations rather than admissions criteria. The letter stated that using this reasoning was an “inappropriate subversion of duly-enacted federal law.”
“We urge you to allocate Title III and V discretionary and mandatory funds as Congress intended so that these institutions, which educate millions of working-class Americans, can continue to successfully serve every student they enroll and continue to be economic engines for the communities they serve across this nation,” continued the Senators.
There are more than 800 federally recognized MSIs in the United States, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving institutions (ANNHSIs). These schools enroll over five million students, many being first-generation college attendees or coming from low-income backgrounds. Federal funding supports essential services at these institutions.
The senators also pointed out that historically, MSI programs have received bipartisan support through several administrations. They noted President Trump’s signing of legislation securing permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges, and MSIs during his first term.
According to Senator Hirono’s official website, she has focused her work in Congress on supporting minorities, immigrants, veterans, servicemembers, and underserved communities. She also provides assistance with federal agency matters such as Social Security claims or immigration petitions (source). Hirono made history as both Hawaii’s first female senator and the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate (source).
Senator Hirono has previously opposed efforts by the administration affecting federal education programs serving minority students. In recent months she participated in forums highlighting what she described as negative impacts from changes in federal education policy.
The letter was signed by additional Democratic senators including Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) among others.
The full text of their letter is available online.
