‘A bulldozer approach:’ Ohio’s minority STEM program falls to Trump cuts - cleveland.com

President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference Friday, has wiped out an Ohio program that pushed diversity in science, technology and math education. The Today in Ohio podcast notes that anything that doesn't help white men is vulnerable in the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP

The Trump administration’s decision to cut $4.7 million in funding for a vital Ohio program aimed at diversifying STEM fields found condemnation from Today in Ohio podcast hosts Monday.

The program in question, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, supported 10 colleges and universities across Ohio in their efforts to recruit and retain racial and ethnic minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math programs.

Laura Johnston explained that the initiative was part of a national effort to break down barriers in fields traditionally dominated by white men. She highlighted the program’s importance in addressing stigmas about STEM being “too hard” and encouraging minorities to enter these fields. “And because it’s for diversity and for specific populations, the Trump administration says, no way. That’s it,” she explained.

Chris Quinn said the decision is part of Trump’s move to wipe out anything that does not help white men.

“What the Trump administration has done has made it all or nothing when it comes to diversity,” he said. “Anything in the federal budget that in any way says anything about diversification is dead. Which fails to recognize there are clear places of inequality in America.”

The hosts emphasized that the program wasn’t just about diversity for diversity’s sake, but about addressing real inequalities and encouraging talent in critical fields where America needs to remain competitive. They noted that the relatively small investment ($4.7 million) would have continued supporting essential initiatives at institutions including Cleveland State, Cuyahoga Community College, Ohio State, University of Cincinnati, and Miami University.

“This bulldozer approach where you wipe out everything is doing some real harm,” Quinn said. “These were good programs. This was a good idea. It wasn’t that expensive.”

.Said ohnston: “$4.7 million across the state in one year. It’s not going to plug a hole in the federal deficit.”

Leila Atassi noted the contradiction in the administration’s stated priorities: “Very counterintuitive for an administration that claims to be putting America first. Right. I mean, these are the career fields that we will just be bulldozed by competitors in other nations if we don’t build that pipeline into those fields.”

Quinn concluded with his bluntest assessment: “Look, the message here is ‘I only want white people in these fields.’ That’s what he’s doing by cutting this money. ‘I don’t want minorities or women in STEM, just people that look like me.’ It’s really horrifying what he’s done here.”

Listen to the full episode for more insights on this and other pressing Ohio issues.

Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.

Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.

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