The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is deeply concerned about the significant implications of the recent executive order, “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” which instructs the secretary of education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” 

Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), along with countless other educational institutions, rely on federal funding administered through the Department of Education. This funding is essential for supporting programs that serve not just American Indian and Alaska Native communities, but low-income, remote, and rural students, as well as other underserved communities.

The Department of Education distributes billions of dollars annually to schools and colleges to support these programs, which include fulfilling the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to provide education to American Indian and Alaska Native students. Dismantling the Department of Education could severely impact the government’s ability to meet these legal and moral commitments to tribal nations and their citizens.

Any path forward must prioritize uninterrupted funding for vital education programs. The closing of the department risks creating funding gaps that would disproportionately harm rural and low-income communities. Many TCUs operate in areas where alternative funding sources are scarce, making federal support indispensable.

TCUs are a bold expression of sovereignty, established in the 1960s to address the growing need to preserve our culture, language, lands, and sovereignty. While primarily serving tribal communities, TCUs are open to students from all backgrounds, providing valuable, locally accessible post-secondary education; any disruption to funding or staffing jeopardizes not only education opportunities but also an economic anchor for jobs and financial security for our most remote communities.

As the Trump administration acknowledged, only an act of Congress can close the Department of Education, highlighting the critical role Congress must play in any decision affecting the department’s future. AIHEC urges policymakers to prioritize a transparent and inclusive process that ensures continuity of funding for all federally supported educational programs. AIHEC calls on Congress to carefully evaluate the long-term consequences of this decision and to safeguard the future of education for all students.