“Historical Designation” , Not “Race-Based Designation” : Trump’s Executive Order on HBCU’s Explained
“Historical Designation” , Not “Race-Based Designation” : Trump’s Executive Order on HBCU’s Explained”
On April 23, 2025, former President Donald J. Trump signed a new Executive Order focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This order reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening HBCUs by recognizing their historical designation, rather than a race-based classification. The Executive Order emphasizes the significance of HBCUs in American history and aims to support their continued contribution to educational equity, innovation, and national competitiveness. It also reinforces the White House Initiative on HBCUs, ensuring that these institutions remain engaged in federal programs, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships despite ongoing shifts in policy and department structures.
By Calandrea Carter, Arts, Entertainment, and Culture Freelance Writer for Transparency Tales. Calandrea Carter is a
Alabama-based HBCU writer who loves to cover culture, sports, entertainment, and arts.
What’s Really Going On With HBCUs and the White House: Here’s What You Should Know
Let’s break it down — simple, straight facts. You may have heard people talk about HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), the White House Initiative, and a bunch of executive orders flying around. It can get confusing, but here’s what you really need to know, especially with everything that’s been going on recently — including a major move on April 23, 2025, by President Donald J. Trump.
First Things First: What Is an HBCU?
An HBCU is a college or university that was created before 1964 with the main goal of educating Black Americans. That’s what Congress officially defined under Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
These schools aren’t just “Black schools” — they have a Historic Designation, not a race-based one. That means they’re recognized for their historical significance, not just who goes there. They’ve played a major role in Black history, culture, and education, and they continue to do that today.
Why Does the Government Care About HBCUs?
Since 1980, U.S. Presidents have signed executive orders to make sure HBCUs get federal support — from money to resources to partnerships. It started with President Jimmy Carter, who wanted to fix the damage left by discrimination and make sure these schools could thrive.
Every president since has renewed and reshaped this commitment, creating what’s known as the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities — also called the WHI-HBCU.
This Initiative makes sure HBCUs are included in federal programs and have a seat at the table when decisions are being made about education, jobs, and the economy.
Fast-Forward to Now: What’s Happening in 2025?
So here’s the recent tea: on April 23, 2025, former President Donald J. Trump signed a new executive order to relaunch and restructure the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made moves around HBCUs — he also signed a similar executive order back in 2017 during his presidency.
The new order (April 2025) keeps HBCUs in the spotlight by focusing on:
• Innovation in education
• Strengthening federal partnerships
• Making sure HBCUs stay competitive in both academics and the job market
• Making it easier for HBCU students to access federal internships and programs
The goal? To make sure HBCUs keep growing despite challenges with funding, leadership transitions, or changing political tides.
So What’s the Catch?
Right now, there have been a lot of shake-ups in the federal government. Some offices that used to help run programs for HBCUs (and other minority-serving institutions) have been cut or merged. But here’s the key point:
The executive order protecting the White House HBCU Initiative is still active.
And it’s also backed by law — thanks to the HBCU PARTNERS Act.
That means even with all these changes, HBCUs are still federally protected, and their role in American education isn’t going anywhere.
Quick Facts You Should Remember
• HBCUs are recognized for their historic significance, not just because they serve Black students.
• The White House Initiative helps HBCUs access federal resources and opportunities.
• Every president since 1980 has kept it going — in different ways.
• Trump’s latest executive order (April 2025) is about keeping HBCUs innovative, visible, and supported.
• The Initiative still exists and is protected by law — even if other offices are changing or disappearing.
Why It Matters to You
If you’re a student at an HBCU — or thinking about attending one — this stuff affects your financial aid, job opportunities, and even who’s in your classrooms. The White House Initiative is basically a bridge between HBCUs and the U.S. government. The stronger it is, the more chances you have to succeed beyond your degree.
So no matter who’s in office, it’s important to understand how policies like this impact HBCU life and legacy — and your future.
Stay informed. Stay locked in. You are part of the story.
About The Author
By Calandrea Carter. Calandrea Carter is a global communications and multimedia journalist from Montgomery, Alabama, with a passion for storytelling that spans across cultures and platforms. Having studied international communications in Milan, Siena, and Florence, Italy, she brings a unique perspective to media and journalism. As the creator, showrunner, and on-air talent of Buzz On The Yard, Carter amplifies student voices and celebrates HBCU culture through digital media.
Her journey includes writing for The Hornet Tribune, the first Black collegiate newspaper published in 1922, and being named a White House HBCU Scholar (Class of 2024) and an AT&T Rising Future Maker. As an AT&T Rising Future Maker, she served as a media and Google ambassador and sports journalist during the NBA All-Star 2025 in Oakland and San Francisco. Additionally, Carter is part of the ESPN Rhoden Fellowship at Andscape (Class of 2026), further cementing her place as a rising voice in entertainment and sports journalism.
Carter is also the founder of Transparency Tales, a platform that blends poetry, film, sports, culture, and life. Through her podcast and blog, she shines a light on transparent storytelling that reflects real life, where art meets truth and every tale reveals more.
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