North Dakota tribal colleges are warning that proposed federal funding cuts would be a “death knell” for their institutions. In the fiscal year 2027 request, the Department of the Interior proposed cutting more than $150 million from tribal colleges and universities and tribal postsecondary programs—above last year’s $105 million proposal. Coverage noted that in fiscal year 2025, tribal colleges received $196 million in total federal support. Campus presidents argued that the latest proposal arrives amid persistent enrollment, staffing, and compliance costs that institutions cannot absorb quickly. The funding trajectory matters for student outcomes because tribal colleges frequently serve first-generation learners and other populations with limited alternative pathways; abrupt reductions can translate into fewer sections, constrained advising, and weakened wraparound support.