The Trump administration said Tuesday it has canceled nine grants funding college mentors at more than 200 public schools in the U.S., representing almost $170 million in funding, because of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at those schools.

The federal GEAR Up funding was used to provide counselors and other programming to help students with plans for college and careers after high school. GEAR Up is an acronym standing for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, a program started in 1998 under former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

The majority of the GEAR Up grants are continuing, the U.S. Department of Education said in a statement. Deputy Press Director Ellen Keast said "the Trump Administration is no longer allowing taxpayer dollars to go out the door

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