The Trump administration has frozen some $6 billion intended for education programs across the U.S. to ensure states and school districts align with the president’s priorities. Around two dozen states are now suing to get the money back.Some of the funding at stake impacts after-school and summer programs that nearly 1.5 million children across the country rely on. The frozen funds also threaten to close Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA facilities and public schools that provide child care to mostly low-income families and rural areas, as well as English language classes and adult literacy programs. The administration accuses states and schools of using the money to fund a “radical left-wing agenda,” including support for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and LGBTQ+ inclusion.Congress previously set aside the money, which Trump then signed into law, but states in the lawsuit claim the Trump administration withheld the funds a day before they were to be distributed.The lawsuit states that if the money is not released soon, many families could lose access to after-school programs in the summer and fall.”This is completely against the law. Congress created these programs. It authorized funding for these programs,” North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. “The Department of Education does not have the authority to now withhold those funds.”Other state leaders also weighed in.”The money is, in fact, there. And we’ve made plans and allow us, allow them to execute on those plans,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green said. “We’re hearing a lot of stress and concern.””President Trump and Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon have dealt a debilitating blow to our schools, throwing them into chaos just weeks ahead of the first day of school for many districts,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.”If this latest federal action goes unchecked, our students, our families, our schools and our communities will absolutely suffer,” Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said.Out of the hundreds of lawsuits filed against the Trump administration so far, an analysis by The Associated Press shows a total of 44 lawsuits that address federal funding issues. Nearly two dozen of those cases resulted in judges either partially or fully blocking the Trump administration’s actions. About a third are still pending, while seven other lawsuits were allowed to proceed.”This is not about Democrat or Republican – these funds were appropriated by Congress for the education of Kentucky’s children,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “These funds are essential to making sure our kids succeed.””This reckless funding freeze is directly harming Maryland’s students … and has jeopardized teacher training, thrown essential special needs services into chaos and left families scrambling to find childcare,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown added. Watch the latest coverage on education and school programs:
The Trump administration has frozen some $6 billion intended for education programs across the U.S. to ensure states and school districts align with the president’s priorities. Around two dozen states are now suing to get the money back.
Some of the funding at stake impacts after-school and summer programs that nearly 1.5 million children across the country rely on. The frozen funds also threaten to close Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA facilities and public schools that provide child care to mostly low-income families and rural areas, as well as English language classes and adult literacy programs.
The administration accuses states and schools of using the money to fund a “radical left-wing agenda,” including support for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Congress previously set aside the money, which Trump then signed into law, but states in the lawsuit claim the Trump administration withheld the funds a day before they were to be distributed.
The lawsuit states that if the money is not released soon, many families could lose access to after-school programs in the summer and fall.
“This is completely against the law. Congress created these programs. It authorized funding for these programs,” North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. “The Department of Education does not have the authority to now withhold those funds.”
Other state leaders also weighed in.
“The money is, in fact, there. And we’ve made plans and allow us, allow them to execute on those plans,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green said. “We’re hearing a lot of stress and concern.”
“President Trump and Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon have dealt a debilitating blow to our schools, throwing them into chaos just weeks ahead of the first day of school for many districts,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
“If this latest federal action goes unchecked, our students, our families, our schools and our communities will absolutely suffer,” Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said.
Out of the hundreds of lawsuits filed against the Trump administration so far, an analysis by The Associated Press shows a total of 44 lawsuits that address federal funding issues. Nearly two dozen of those cases resulted in judges either partially or fully blocking the Trump administration’s actions. About a third are still pending, while seven other lawsuits were allowed to proceed.
“This is not about Democrat or Republican – these funds were appropriated by Congress for the education of Kentucky’s children,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “These funds are essential to making sure our kids succeed.”
“This reckless funding freeze is directly harming Maryland’s students … and has jeopardized teacher training, thrown essential special needs services into chaos and left families scrambling to find childcare,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown added.
Watch the latest coverage on education and school programs:
