Trump Expected to Make HBCU Announcement Today

Donald Trump is set to make an announcement today at 4P about additional leadership in the White House Initiative on HBCUs. In September, the administration tapped Johnathan Holifield, a former NFL player who headed an economic development firm, to lead the initiative. A White House spokesman said Monday that "Johnathan is still the executive director of the WH Initiative on HBCUs," but would not provide more information on today's announcement. Many HBCU leaders are in town for meetings on the Hill and with officials in the Trump administration organized by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). The Education Department recently issued a solicitation for meeting space and hotel rooms for the annual conference for the initiative, noting in the solicitation that it spent $30,000 on last year's "abbreviated" version. This year, however, the department appears to be ready to host full-fledged conference, seeking a conference space that can hold 1,000 attendees. The department is eyeing either September 16th-19th or September 19th-23rd for the event. DeVos addressed HBCU presidents and chancellors at an event hosted by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on Monday, which represents 47 public HBCUs. It was closed to the press and the Education Department would not give out her remarks when asked. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)addressed the group as well. More on the HBCU fly-in here.