Tribal Universities Prepare for Deep Cuts to Federal Funding

Frederica Freyberg:
In northern Wisconsin, the state’s two tribal colleges stand to lose more than half of their federal funding if Congress approves President Trump’s 2026 budget next month. “Here & Now” reporter Erica Ayisi traveled to one of the colleges, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University in Hayward, where they say they are devastated but working with their tribal leaders and Congress to maintain their funding levels. This report is in collaboration with ICT, formerly Indian Country Today.

Erica Ayisi:
Oscar Reo is a freshman education major at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University in Hayward. He’s also an enrolled member of the Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

[instructor speaking Ojibwe, Reo repeating Ojibwe]

Erica Ayisi:
After college, Reo wants to teach Ojibwe, a Native American language.

Oscar Reo:
I’m excited. I think I’ll get there pretty quickly here. There’s a lot of people that are good teachers and a lot of people that speak Ojibwe here.

Erica Ayisi:
Teachers, student and staff at tribal institutions like Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University are facing a massive federal threat this October under President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, leaving Reo’s educational goals ambiguous.

Oscar Reo:
I don’t know about my ability to continue, but I think there’s a lot of progress that’s trying to be made here, especially within the language program that hopefully doesn’t get halted because of it.

Erica Ayisi:
The Trump administration is requesting $22 million for post-secondary Indian education programs, compared to $191 million requested for 2025. Karen Breit, interim president of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, says federal funding is the university’s major operating resource.

Karen Breit:
Over 80% of our funding comes from federal funds.

Erica Ayisi:
How will the university survive?

Karen Breit:
We’re working on different initiatives with our government on that side of generating different, different revenue for the institution.

Erica Ayisi:
Breit says the university is looking to the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribal Nation and other donors for support, but challenges with the Department of Education persist.

Karen Breit:
Where the department administers our ability to access federal funds right now, we’re having some struggles with that.

[instructor speaking Ojibwe]

Erica Ayisi:
They are also struggling to keep university staff on to address student advisory jobs eliminated by the DOE like academic coaches.

Karen Breit:
The institution is working to figure out a plan to keep some of the coaches with us so that they can continue to do the work.

Erica Ayisi:
Breit says the increase in credit hours for Pell Grant eligibility could affect half of the student population, who also work part time.

Karen Breit:
Increasing that requirement would really have a huge impact on their ability to afford school.

Erica Ayisi:
70% of the students here are Native American. The United States has a federal trust responsibility to provide support for Native Americans in exchange for their land.

Karen Breit:
It is an obligation. It is in the treaties. It is in writing and a promise that was made and education is part of that promise.

Erica Ayisi:
With the Trump administration aiming to cut at least 80% of funding to the Bureau of Indian Education for 2026, the impact will be felt here on campus and in the surrounding community.

Karen Breit:
Tribal communities are often in rural areas, remote areas of the country, and so having access to higher education within your home community is tremendous for tribal people.

Erica Ayisi:
The House Subcommittee on Appropriations approved $1.5 billion for the Bureau of Indian Education in July. However, those funds were not specified for tribal colleges and universities.

[instructor speaking Ojibwe]

Erica Ayisi:
As students begin the academic year with a potentially massive federal funding reduction lurking in Congress.

Oscar Reo:
They’re trying to start new programs and new — hire new teachers and everything. And hopefully that doesn’t get messed with.

Erica Ayisi:
Reporting from the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation, I’m Erica Ayisi for “Here & Now.”