White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions

The order establishes two new bodies within the Department of Education: the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the President's Board of Advisors on Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The Initiative, chaired by the Secretary of Education and managed by an Executive Director, is directed to identify federal programs available to HSIs, develop best practices for student success and economic mobility, strengthen federal recruitment at HSIs, improve HSI fiscal security, and coordinate with other White House Initiatives. The Board, consisting of up to 21 presidentially appointed members, is directed to advise the President on increasing HSI participation in federal policymaking, improving access to federal grants, and building partnerships with philanthropic and private-sector organizations.

The order does not itself change funding levels or redirect appropriations — all support is subject to existing appropriations. Agency heads are directed to assist the Initiative and Board as needed, and each agency bears its own participation costs. The Executive Director must report annually to the President on the Initiative's progress.

The more than 500 Hispanic-Serving Institutions across 27 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico; their 4.7 million enrolled students, faculty, staff, and alumni; federal agencies directed to coordinate with the Initiative; and philanthropic and private-sector organizations encouraged to form new partnerships with HSIs.

HSIs currently receive 25 percent less per-student federal funding than other degree-granting institutions. This order creates a formal federal coordination structure designed to reduce that resource gap, potentially affecting millions of students — many from low-income backgrounds — who rely on HSIs for upward economic mobility.

The Initiative is housed in and funded by the Department of Education within existing appropriations; the Secretary of Education chairs it and appoints an Executive Director who handles day-to-day operations. The Executive Director reports annually to the President and meets regularly with HSI representatives. The Board of up to 21 presidentially appointed members advises the President through the Secretary and reports periodically on its progress. Other agencies may detail staff to the Initiative under the Economy Act. No new funding is created — implementation depends entirely on existing budgets and future appropriations.