Porter comments on Trump admin cancelling grant for low-income students due to DEI

Last week, the Trump Administration cancelled a $34.9 million grant to Purdue University for the Indiana GEAR UP program. According to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), the grant was cancelled to prioritize “excellence, fairness and merit in education.” Indiana Gear Up partners with nine school corporations, including Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), to prepare low-income students for college. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“Indiana Republicans attacked DEI, refusing to acknowledge that these programs serve more than just racial minorities. The loss of Indiana GEAR UP is a direct result of the narrative they pushed. Anything deemed unfair, regardless of who it helps, is cut.

“Low-income students lost critical access to tutors, mentors and STEM coaching. It’s not unfair to provide these students with the same resources that wealthy families can afford to hire. Statehouse Republicans constantly attack inner-city public schools for their performance. Then they turn around and cut programs that benefit their students. 

“Gov. Braun and Purdue University have both been mum on this topic. Purdue didn’t appeal the grant termination, and the governor hasn’t asked the DOE to reverse its decision. To keep this program alive, I suggest using some of the funds put away for InvestEd. There’s a little over $100 million sitting unclaimed and unused, which could cover this program. 

‘If the federal government abandons our low-income students, the state can easily choose to support them.”