Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education moved to end discretionary funding, appropriated by Congress, for minority-serving institution grant programs, including Hispanic-serving institutions. This action is deeply disappointing.

Even more troubling, the move comes before the courts have resolved the lawsuit challenging the legality of Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institution designations.

Acting prematurely not only undermines confidence in the process but also raises questions about the unique roles and powers of the legislative and executive branches — questions best left to legislative leaders and lawyers.

As an educational institution, our focus is on what the department’s action does in practice.

Most immediately, it creates a fiscal challenge for the hundreds of colleges and........

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