Rep. Tokuda condemns rescission of Pacific Studies and Language funding at UH Mānoa

US Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) met with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa leadership, faculty, and students to address the Trump Administration’s recent effort to rescind nearly $1 billion pocket rescission package, which included almost $70 million in cuts to Title VI international education programs that have historically supported Pacific and Asian studies, foreign-language education, and related international education programs at UH Mānoa.

UH Mānoa applied for $2.8 million in grants that would have supported the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) within the College of Arts, Languages, & Letters, but no awards will be made due to the rescission.

Prior funding cuts to Title VI international education programs have already contributed to the loss of numerous Pacific language courses, including Tahitian, Marshallese, and Māori, along with Foreign Language and Asian Studies (FLAS) scholarships. In addition, the recission could also force the university to eliminate court interpreter training programs, student positions, professional development opportunities, and new curriculum development.

During the meeting, Tokuda emphasized Hawaiʻi’s unique position in the Pacific and the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Pacific nations through a deep understanding of the region’s languages, cultures, and histories.

“The President does not get to pick and choose which laws to follow. Congress approved this funding, and the Administration cannot run out the clock to let it disappear. That undermines Congress’s power of the purse and ignores local needs. It is not responsible budgeting; it is cruel and shortsighted,” said Tokuda. “UH has long been the tip of the spear for language training and cultural competency in the Pacific. With the region vital to our national and financial security, cutting such a modest investment is reckless. We should strengthen these ties, not dismantle them.”

“We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Tokuda for standing with the University of Hawaiʻi and advocating for the restoration of this critical funding,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis Syrmos. “These programs support our students and faculty while strengthening the language, cultural, and regional expertise essential to Hawaiʻi’s unique role in the Pacific. The loss of this funding has immediate consequences for our students and programs, and we appreciate Congresswoman Tokuda’s leadership and commitment to protecting these important investments.”

Tokuda has supported strong federal funding for Title VI international education programs through the annual appropriations process. This year, she joined several colleagues in a joint letter to the House Appropriations Committee requestion $86 million in Fiscal Year 2027.

As Congress finalizes the FY2027 spending package, Tokuda said she will continue pushing to restore these funds, secure strong funding for next year, and defend Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending.