$330B Cuts to Higher Ed: What the The Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan Means for HBCUs
Alright, we’ve got to talk about this.
What would happen if the federal support that helps millions of students attend college was suddenly slashed by over $330 billion? This isn’t a hypothetical—it’s the reality we could be facing, thanks to the recent proposal by the House GOP to cut higher education funding by exactly that amount. And while the news might seem like just another piece of political chatter, its potential impact on HBCUs—and the students who rely on them—is devastating.
The bill is called “The Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan,” and it’s being met with heavy criticism by politicians, colleges, and students alike. The budget cuts laid out in the bill, proposed allegedly to help offset the cost of Trump’s tax cuts, could mean big trouble for HBCUs. The “sweeping plan” would cut subsidized loans starting July 1st, 2026 , end the graduate loan program, and severely restrict eligibility to the Parent PLUS loan program, making college education virtually inaccessible for those who need financial support the most.
The Parent PLUS loan program (which allows guardians to take out loans on students’ behalf) is critical for HBCUs and helping students access higher education. In this way, the House GOP’s plan poses a direct threat to the future of education for Black students and the crucial role HBCUs play in developing Black leaders. As we watch these developments unfold, it’s important to ask: what will happen to the opportunities for success and upward mobility for students at institutions that have already been held back by lack of funding?
Why These Cuts Matter to HBCUs
Map of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (hbcumaps.com)
HBCUs are more than just colleges; for many students, they’re a path forward, a legacy, and a dream. These schools represent hope and opportunity for many Black students by offering not just education, but community, cultural pride, and the opportunity to build the future. The proposed cuts would gut funding for HBCUs, making it harder for these institutions to continue providing the support, resources, and access to education that they have for so long.
Many colleges are already operating under immense financial strain. Historically, HBCUs have received significantly less federal funding than predominantly white institutions (PWIs), and their budgets have been stretched thin for years. The increase in tuition rates has far outpaced the increase in wages for many working-class students, particularly those from marginalized communities who rely on financial aid to attend college. This tuition increase has led to mounting student debt, making it more difficult for graduates to enter the workforce and succeed. For many students, attending an HBCU is a powerful opportunity to receive a quality education in a supportive, culturally rich environment. However, these new funding cuts threaten the ability of HBCUs to continue offering that unique experience, jeopardizing the future of students who rely on these institutions for their academic and personal growth.
The Breakdown
The “risk-sharing” proposal embedded in this legislation is one of the most concerning aspects. Let me break it down for you: The idea of requiring colleges to repay a portion of students' unpaid loans may sound like a reasonable move at first glance, but it’s critical to understand the consequences of this policy for schools like HBCUs. With already limited budgets and fewer resources to support students, these institutions could face further financial hardship if they are forced to shoulder the responsibility of unpaid loans. While the Republican defense of this proposal argues that it would push colleges to lower tuition and reduce debt, this ignores the harsh reality that many HBCUs are already doing the best they can with what they have. The reality is, this proposal would result in a vicious cycle: the cuts to funding will harm the students who rely on these institutions most, and in turn, the institutions will be forced to increase tuition even more to cover these new newcosts, further exacerbating the financial burden on students.
Currently, HBCUs face significant disparities in funding compared to predominantly white institutions (PWIs). These institutions receive less than 20% of the total federal funding allocated to higher education. The proposed cuts would make this gap even wider, leaving HBCUs unable to adequately support scholarships, faculty, infrastructure, and vital student services.
Who Would Be Affected?
The biggest victims of these cuts? The students. Specifically, the ones who rely the most on federal financial aid to attend school. Programs like Pell Grants, which help low-income students attend college, and work-study programs, which allow students to earn money while studying, would be significantly impacted.
HBCUs have historically served a disproportionate number of students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds, and these cuts would hit them the hardest. These students often rely on financial aid to access higher education at all. Without it, their dreams of attending college—and the chance to create a better life for themselves and their families—could become totally out of reach.
Why We Can’t Stay Silent
We know what HBCUs stand for. They stand for hope. They stand for possibility. They help carry on the culture Black Americans have worked so hard to build and preserve. From political leaders like Stacy Abrams (Spelman College) to philanthropists like Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State University), the contributions of HBCU graduates to our communities and our nation speak for themselves.
So what do we do? Right now, these institutions need us to speak for them. The proposed cuts are still in the early stages, and there is time to make our voices heard. It’s time to contact your representatives, to speak up about the importance of funding HBCUs, and to demand that our communities receive the financial support they deserve. This fight is about much more than politics—it’s about the future of Black education, and it’s a fight we can’t afford to lose.
The Bottom Line
At HBCU Leggings, we stand proudly with HBCUs and the students they support. The House GOP’s proposed cuts are not just about reducing the federal budget—they’re about eliminating opportunities for students to succeed. As we continue to advocate for better support for HBCUs, we have to remember that every victory for these institutions is a victory for our communities, our culture, and our future.
Together, let’s stay informed, raise our voices, and ensure that the doors to higher education remain open for generations of students to come.
Love and Leggings,
Bibi
Oh, one more thing! Taking action has never been easier. We've put together a list of current state senators for you to contact. Start today—your voice matters, and together we can make a difference.
Alabama
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R)
Phone: 202-224-4124
Website: https://www.tuberville.senate.gov
Senator Katie Britt (R)
Phone: 202-224-5744
Website: https://www.britt.senate.gov
Georgia
Senator Jon Ossoff (D)
Phone: 202-224-3521
Website: https://www.ossoff.senate.gov
Senator Raphael Warnock (D)
Phone: 202-224-3643
Website: https://www.warnock.senate.gov
Louisiana
Senator John Kennedy (R)
Phone: 202-224-4623
Website: https://www.kennedy.senate.gov
Senator Bill Cassidy (R)
Phone: 202-224-5824
Website: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov
Maryland
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D)
Phone: 202-224-4654
Website: https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov
Senator Ben Cardin (D)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Website: https://www.cardin.senate.gov
Mississippi
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)
Phone: 202-224-5054
Website: https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov
Senator Roger Wicker (R)
Phone: 202-224-6253
Website: https://www.wicker.senate.gov
North Carolina
Senator Thom Tillis (R)
Phone: 202-224-6342
Website: https://www.tillis.senate.gov
Senator Ted Budd (R)
Phone: 202-224-3154
Website: https://www.budd.senate.gov
South Carolina
Senator Lindsey Graham (R)
Phone: 202-224-5972
Website: https://www.lgraham.senate.gov
Senator Tim Scott (R)
Phone: 202-224-6121
Website: https://www.scott.senate.gov
Tennessee
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R)
Phone: 202-224-3344
Website: https://www.blackburn.senate.gov
Senator Bill Hagerty (R)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Website: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov
Texas
Senator John Cornyn (R)
Phone: 202-224-2934
Website: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov
Senator Ted Cruz (R)
Phone: 202-224-5922
Website: https://www.cruz.senate.gov
Virginia
Senator Tim Kaine (D)
Phone: 202-224-4024
Website: https://www.kaine.senate.gov
Senator Mark Warner (D)
Phone: 202-224-2023
Website: https://www.warner.senate.gov
For the most up-to-date contact information and to send messages directly to your senators, please visit the official U.S. Senate website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bibi Mama is a first generation Beninese-American actress born and raised in Mansfield, CT. Growing up she watched her father, an English professor and author, continue the Yoruba oral tradition through storytelling, which inspired her. She earned her B.F.A. from Howard University and recently finished her MFA at the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA Graduate Acting Program.