---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3303"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3303"
heading: "Program authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3303"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Indian Higher Education Programs"
  - "Subchapter I — Higher Education Tribal Grant Authorization"
---

# §3303. Program authority

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall, from the amounts appropriated for the purpose of supporting higher education grants for Indian students under the authority of [section 13 of this title](/usc/25/13.md), make grants to [Indian tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter to permit those tribes to provide financial assistance to individual Indian students for the cost of attendance at institutions of higher education.
- (b) **Limitation on Secretary’s authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall not place any restrictions on the use of funds provided to an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2) under this subchapter that is not expressly authorized by this subchapter.
- (c) **Effect on Federal responsibilities—** The provisions of this subchapter shall not affect any trust responsibilities of the Federal Government.
- (d) **No termination for administrative convenience—** Grants provided under this subchapter may not be terminated, modified, suspended, or reduced only for the convenience of the administering agency.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–325, title XIII, § 1313, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 798.)