WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily halted a federal scholarship initiative designed to support students from rural and underserved communities who aspire to attend historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The 1890 Scholars Program, which provided comprehensive tuition assistance and fees for individuals pursuing degrees in agriculture, food sciences, or natural resource disciplines at 19 designated 1890 land-grant institutions, is currently suspended. This decision has raised concerns among some members of Congress, who publicly voiced their criticism of the program’s suspension on Thursday. Further inquiries for clarification were directed to the Department of Agriculture over the weekend.

According to the department’s official announcement on the program’s website, “The 1890 Scholars Program has been suspended pending further review.”

This suspension aligns with a funding freeze implemented during President Donald Trump’s administration. Officials had justified the pause as a necessary measure to assess alignment with Trump’s executive orders focusing on issues such as climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The funding freeze has faced legal challenges, resulting in an initial temporary hold on the executive order.

The scholarship program, which traces its origins back to 1992, is named after the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which facilitated the establishment of HBCUs. The universities impacted by this suspension include Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T University, and Tuskegee University, among others.

To qualify for the program, applicants must be U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must be accepted to one of the 19 1890 land-grant colleges. Additionally, eligible candidates should focus their studies on agriculture or relevant fields and demonstrate leadership and community service, as outlined on the department’s website.

In October, the Department of Agriculture announced an allocation of $19.2 million for this essential program. For the fiscal year 2024, 94 students received scholarships, reflecting the program’s ongoing commitment to supporting future leaders in agricultural sciences.