CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Students at Virginia State University (VSU) were left disheartened after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 1890 National Scholars Program was temporarily suspended, leaving many unsure of their academic futures. The scholarship program, which provides full tuition, room and board, and other fees, has long been an invaluable resource for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, science, and natural resources at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Tobias Clark, a freshman majoring in agriculture, was among the students affected by the unexpected news. “I was kind of getting excited because I thought, ‘Man, if I can get the scholarship, the rest of my expenses for the semester can be paid off,’” Clark said. “But I applied and woke up the next morning to find out that it had been suspended.”
The USDA’s 1890 National Scholars Program, which was founded in 1992 as an agreement between the USDA and Black land-grant universities, aims to support students from underserved communities in their pursuit of higher education. The program has benefitted students at 19 such universities, including VSU, a critical resource for those who often face financial barriers to education.
According to VSU, the program currently supports 16 students at the university. These students rely on the scholarship to cover significant costs associated with their college education, including tuition and living expenses. VSU expressed its concerns in an email to 8News, calling the program a “vital resource” for both current and past recipients.
For many students, the news of the suspension hit close to home. “A lot of us, it was hard for us to come to college alone. We can barely afford it,” Clark shared. “It was super personal. It was a shock.”
The USDA’s website for the 1890 Scholars Program displayed a message on Friday, February 21, stating that the program had been suspended pending further review. The message remained on the site for several days, causing confusion and concern among students who depend on the program for financial support. As of the late evening on February 24, however, the USDA updated its website to announce that the application period for the program had been reopened and would remain open through March 15. Despite the announcement, the USDA did not provide further clarification regarding the reason for the suspension.
The suspension came amid broader concerns about potential budget cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, a topic that has been a point of contention during the Trump administration. Students like Clark worry that this could be a sign of more cuts to come. “The more Black faces we get in any field — even outside of agriculture — it’s going to push more Black individuals to go into those fields, and it’ll just be good for the community as a whole,” Clark said, reflecting on the importance of supporting diversity within higher education.
Other VSU students expressed concerns over the broader impact on future programs, especially as budget cuts and changes to federal funding could affect more scholarships and initiatives aimed at underserved populations. “It’s one day at a time,” said Kayla Rose, an accounting major at VSU. “You just hope it’s not you next.”
In response to the suspension, VSU released a statement, saying, “We are still assessing the full impact of the USDA’s decision to suspend the 1890 Scholars Program, which currently supports 16 VSU students in their academic and professional pursuits within the agriculture industry. This program has been an invaluable resource for HBCU students, and its suspension could have significant effects. However, we remain committed to advocating for and supporting all our students as best we can.”
Though the temporary suspension has left many students unsettled, the reopening of the application period provides some relief. However, the lack of clear communication from the USDA regarding the reasons for the suspension has left lingering questions. For now, students at VSU and other affected universities will be closely watching any further updates regarding the future of the 1890 National Scholars Program.
