Leaders at tribal colleges are reporting ambivalence after recent federal funding increases: campuses received new resources but remain skeptical about long-term commitments and administrative support. Reporting from Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College — and voices such as program lead Ruth De La Cruz — show community-rooted programs (food sovereignty, cultural curricula) benefiting from funds but still wary about reliable multi-year budgets and bureaucratic responsiveness. Tribal institutions emphasize sovereignty-driven programming and point to historical underfunding. Administrators now press federal agencies for clearer multi-year commitments and technical assistance so program expansion can be sustained rather than one-off. The dynamic signals a continued need for policy-level clarity on funding mechanisms and oversight for Tribal Higher Education programs.