Tribal college leaders warn state cuts could hurt Native students

Tribal college leaders said a proposed federal budget cut of more than $150 million could ripple through five North Dakota campuses that educate Native students, train workers and anchor rural communities. The warning comes as the Trump administration’s FY 2027 request targets tribal colleges and universities and tribal postsecondary programs, after Congress rejected a smaller $105 million cut last year.

The North Dakota Tribal College System, a unified coalition supporting five tribal colleges across the state, said the schools are more than classrooms. A 2024 economic impact study found the colleges added $169.5 million to North Dakota’s economy in FY 2022-23, supported 2,106 jobs and generated $30.4 million in tax revenue and public-sector savings. The study said taxpayers received $1.30 back for every dollar invested.

Those numbers have become part of the argument against the new proposal. Tribal colleges received $196 million from the federal government in fiscal year 2025, and leaders say another round of cuts would hit programs that already run thin. Tracey Bauer, executive director of the North Dakota Tribal College System, said the earlier budget scare pushed schools to tighten spending. She warned the latest proposal could lead to layoffs, tuition increases, program closures and campus shutdowns.

At Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, president Twyla Baker called the newest proposal “devastating.” The college gets more than half of its funding from the federal government, making it especially vulnerable if Washington trims support again. At United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, president Russ McDonald said about 70% of the school’s funding comes from the federal government, a level that leaves little room to absorb large cuts.

The debate now sits with Congress, which has until Oct. 1 to finish the budget. Sen. John Hoeven said he expected strong funding to continue, while Rep. Julie Fedorchak described the president’s budget proposal as a starting point for review. Native advocacy groups, including the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the American Indian College Fund, are urging lawmakers to reject the reductions and uphold treaty obligations.

For Native students across North Dakota, the outcome will decide more than a line item. It will help determine whether tribal colleges can keep classes open, workforce programs running and cultural institutions intact for the next generation.