/ Modified feb 14, 2020 4:55 p.m.

Federal budget proposes cuts to scholarships for Indigenous students

Trump administration has again proposed cutting scholarship funds within the Bureau of Indian Education.

The Trump administration has proposed gutting funding for Indigenous student college scholarships for the third year in a row.

This year's proposed budget for the Bureau of Indian Education proposes to cut almost $40 million from two categories of scholarships for Native students.

According to the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance, federal funds made up $13.4 million, or 53%, of scholarships awarded to Navajo students in 2019.

"The Trump administration has made it abundantly clear that it is not interested in providing support to Native Americans seeking a college education," said Rose Graham, the director of the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance. "It appears the Trump administration is doing its best to keep a college degree out of reach of Native Americans."

She said many Navajo students could not afford college without these funds, but she's hopeful Congress will reject the cuts as it did in 2019 and 2020.

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