Fri Feb 21 15:00:00 UTC 2025: **USDA Suspends 1890 Scholars Program, Sparking Outrage**
Charlotte, NC – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (D-NC) has condemned the Trump-Vance administration’s suspension of the USDA’s 1890 Scholars Program, calling the move a “clear attack” on higher education accessibility. The program, which provides scholarships and work opportunities at the USDA for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was abruptly suspended, according to an announcement on the USDA website. The suspension follows a series of executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government.
Congresswoman Adams, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and founder of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, argues the suspension is a direct affront to the program’s crucial role in addressing historical racial discrimination within the land-grant system. She stated that the program offers vital opportunities in fields like food safety, agriculture, and natural resources, and demanded its immediate reinstatement. The original application deadline for the program was March 1, 2025. The Congresswoman characterized the suspension as “targeted and mean-spirited,” and called for the USDA to immediately reverse its decision.
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