Wisconsin tribal colleges are threatened by federal cuts

Tribal colleges in Wisconsin stand to lose significant federal support following proposed cuts under the Trump administration, including an 83 percent cut to certain Bureau of Indian Education funds.

If approved, those cuts, along with proposed changes to the federal Pell Grant program, could hamper the services tribal colleges provide students in Wisconsin.

There are two tribal colleges in the state, together enrolling about 700 students: Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, which is about 100 miles north of Eau Claire; and the College of Menominee Nation, about 45 miles northwest of Green Bay.

“The tribal colleges and universities across the country already operate at bare minimum funding,” said Karen Breit, the interim president at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. “So any projected decrease to that funding is going to have a major impact.” 

University staff are looking at budget cuts in anticipation of the possible loss of federal funding, she said. 

The possible Bureau of Indian Education cuts include slashing postsecondary programming from about $127.4 million in 2025 to just about $22 million in 2026. The cuts are included in a budget request sent by the Department of the Interior to Congress. 

In a statement, an Interior Department spokesperson told WPR it is committed to supporting “high-quality education that honors the unique needs and cultures of Native students. We will continue to advance academic excellence, student well-being and culturally relevant instruction with the resources entrusted to us.”

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” recently approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives included a change that would eliminate Pell Grant eligibility for part-time students. The Senate version of the bill does not include the eligibility cuts, but that could change by the time the bill comes to a vote.

College of Menominee Nation President Chris Caldwell said the changes to Pell Grant criteria could be “pretty devastating.”

“We have a large number of part-time students just due to work, family or both, as they try to advance their education,” Caldwell said. “That’s around 70 percent of our student population.” 

He said federal funds are important for tribal colleges, following historic non-investment in Native communities. 

“We’re still recovering from that,” he said, adding that the tribal college has helped build their community workforce. “A lot of our people are now the leaders in our institutions.”

He said if federal cuts go through, his college might have to reduce the amount of student services and degree programs they offer. 

But community programs through the college, such as energy assistance programs, food preparation and professional development programs, would likely go first, he added. 

“It would just slowly back us into a corner of just focusing on teaching and learning,” he said. “We’d have to figure out what staff we could afford to keep.” 

Tribal colleges and universities have a significant economic impact on their local communities, Breit said.   

“If our funds from the federal government changed, they don’t only affect the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, but the surrounding area,” she said.