After facing public backlash, the United States Department of Agriculture has decided to reopen the USDA 1890s National Scholars Program, a scholarship initiative designed to support young individuals at historically Black colleges and universities pursuing careers in agriculture, food safety, and environmental science.
The program's application period has been extended until March 15th, with the USDA encouraging interested candidates to submit their applications. Additionally, the department has announced upcoming webinars to provide further information to potential applicants.
Last week, the Congressional Black Caucus criticized the Trump administration for halting the long-standing 1890 Scholars Program. This program traditionally covered full tuition, fees, books, and room and board expenses for students attending 1890 land-grant universities.
Democratic members of Congress expressed strong opposition to the suspension of the program, viewing it as a reflection of the administration's negative stance towards marginalized communities. They pointed to recent executive orders that targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the government as further evidence of this trend.
