ACT NOW: Sign our petition to tell North Carolina's members of Congress and the state Legislature that we demand the restoration of these funds to our HBCUs to support the vital role they play in our community, economy, and the future of our state.

Tell lawmakers in Raleigh and Washington, D.C. to stand up for our HBCUs – and stand against Trump's betrayal!

Here's more about how Trump's so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” – which should be called the "Big Ugly Betrayal" – outrageously undermines our HBCUs and hurts the thousands of students who attend them:

1. Cuts Financial Aid for HBCU Students

• The bill slashes Pell Grant access and campus-based aid like Work-Study—vital lifelines for low-income students who make up the majority of HBCU enrollments.

• Without this aid, many students simply won’t be able to enroll or finish college.

2. Undermines HBCU Institutional Funding

• The bill reduces Title III support, which helps HBCUs improve academic programs, technology, facilities, and faculty training.

• These are the very tools HBCUs rely on to stay competitive and serve students effectively.

3. Guts Federal Research Funding

• Cuts to NIH, NSF, USDA, and Department of Energy grants directly harm public HBCUs like NC A&T State University and NC Central University, which are major research hubs.

• This weakens innovation, job creation, and STEM pipelines in our state.

4. Slashes Teacher and STEM Training Programs

• The bill eliminates support for programs that prepare Black teachers and STEM professionals—roles HBCUs have filled for generations.

• North Carolina’s teacher shortage and STEM workforce diversity will suffer as a result.

5. Hurts First-Generation and Rural Students

• Eliminating TRIO, GEAR UP, and McNair programs strips support from first-generation and rural students, many of whom attend HBCUs across North Carolina.

• These cuts raise dropout rates and shrink the pipeline to graduate education.

6. Reduces Support for Veterans

• HBCUs like Fayetteville State University and Elizabeth City State University serve many military-affiliated students. Trump's cuts to veteran programs make it harder for these students to succeed.

7. Threatens the Survival of Private HBCUs

• Schools like Shaw University, Livingstone College, and Bennett College rely heavily on federal aid and face existential risks under this bill.

• Without state funding to fall back on, federal cuts hit them hardest.

We need your voice: sign our petition now!