Over 80 members of the United States House of Representatives signed a letter to U.S. Department of Education expressing strong concern regarding the rescission of federal resources from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Asian American- and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNIs), and Minority Science and Engineering Improvement (MSEIPs) and diverting them to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

The letter urged for comprehensive funding as a collective goal, stating, “Rather than forcing these institutions into competition over limited resources, federal policy should focus on increasing overall investment across the full spectrum of minority-serving institutions.”

“HSIs are central to advancing educational opportunity for Latino students as well as their peers from all demographics that attend these schools, which benefits the nation as a whole,” said David Mendez, Interim CEO, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. We are grateful to Congress for standing with us in rejecting efforts that divide communities and diminish opportunity.”

Read the full letter here.

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*Editor’s Note: David Mendez is HACU’s former Interim CEO. John Moder is the Interim Chief Executive Officer as of October 6, 2025.