CAPAC Chair Meng Denounces Education Department for Ending Funding for Minority Serving Institutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), released the following statement after the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion on the constitutionality of the Department of Education’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Program. Pursuant to the opinion, the Education Department will no longer operate such programs.
“Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) have helped millions of students, including roughly one-third of all undergraduates, achieve a higher education—one of the most reliable pathways to join the middle class and secure economic mobility. Their impact is magnified in our community, with Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) enrolling nearly half of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students, the majority of whom are low-income and first-generation.
“By terminating funding for MSIs, the Trump administration is denying countless students a fair shot at the American Dream. It is a slap in the face to our parents, grandparents, and the generations before them who sacrificed so much to create better opportunities for their children. CAPAC will not give up the fight to ensure that high-quality public education remains affordable and accessible to students from every background.”
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Education will no longer operate the following programs after the Department of Justice issued an opinion that they are unconstitutional: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program, Predominantly Black Institutions formula grants, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program, Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans, Hispanic Serving Institutions–STEM Programs, and Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions.
In September, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)—released a joint statement in response to the Trump administration’s termination of grants for hundreds of colleges and universities that serve large minority student populations.
CAPAC Chair Meng, along with Chair Emerita Judy Chu CA-28), First Vice Chair Mark Takano (CA-41), and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) also introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week, from September 22 – September 28, 2025.
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