Education, research and culture

Executive Order 13779: White House Initiative To Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

President: Donald J. Trump

Established a White House HBCU initiative and advisory board; later orders replaced the 2017 framework.

Status: Revoked.

Is Executive Order 13779 still in effect? No. Revoked and superseded by EO 14041 in 2021; a new initiative was established by EO 14283 in 2025.

What does Executive Order 13779 do?

EO 13779 created a White House initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, annual agency planning, an interagency working group and a presidential advisory board. EO 14041 expressly revoked and superseded the 2017 order in 2021. EO 14283 revoked EO 14041 and established a new White House HBCU initiative in 2025. The Department of Education describes that newer initiative as operating in 2026; that does not mean EO 13779 was reinstated.

Administration position: The order sought to expand HBCU participation in federal programs; actual funding remained dependent on appropriations and program rules.
SignedFebruary 28, 2017
2017 frameworkInitiative, agency plans and advisory board
Express revocationEO 14041, September 2021

Before and after

Before the order

Prior federal HBCU initiatives and education programs existed.

After the order

The 2017 structure operated until EO 14041 replaced it; EO 14283 later established a distinct framework.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Initiative executive directorCoordinate the White House initiative2017 framework
Identified agenciesPrepare annual HBCU plans2017 framework
Advisory boardAdvise the President2017 framework, later replaced

What happened next

EO 13779 established the initiative.

EO 14041 revoked and superseded EO 13779.

EO 14283 revoked EO 14041 and established a new initiative.