In a statement released Thursday, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD, reacted to the recent suspension of the USDA’s 1890 Scholars Program. She labeled the move an unjust attack on educational equity for underserved communities nationwide. The Trump-Vance Administration announced the abrupt decision without prior notice after a series of executive orders to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within government programs.
“It is infuriating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended the 1890 Scholars Program ‘pending further review,” stated Congresswoman Adams, a senior House Committee on Agriculture member. “This is a clear attack on an invaluable program that makes higher education accessible for everybody, and provides opportunities for students to work at USDA, especially in the critical fields of food safety, agriculture, and natural resources that Americans rely on every single day.”
Supporting Students From Rural And Underserved Communities
The 1890 National Scholars Program, established in 1992 as a partnership between the USDA and the 1890 land-grant universities, aims to increase educational and career opportunities for students from rural or underserved backgrounds. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, books, and room and board for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines. Additionally, it offers valuable work experience at the USDA.
“This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it,” Adams emphasized. She insists that the USDA immediately reverse the suspension and reinstate the program. With the original application deadline for the scholarship set for March 1, 2025, the Congresswoman stressed the urgency of the situation for students counting on this opportunity.
In Fiscal Year 2024, the USDA awarded 94 scholarships through the 1890 program. The 19 participating institutions include historically Black colleges and universities such as Florida A&M University, Alabama A&M University, and North Carolina A&T State University, among others.
With uncertainty surrounding the program’s future, students and supporters are left awaiting a response from the USDA that could further entrench disparities in access to education or pave the way for renewed commitment to equity and inclusion.