Trump Administration Cuts Funding For Public Schools Right Before Classes Begin

Trump has made it a priority to target Democratic-leaning states with education funding cuts — but the ones controlled by the GOP won’t be spared.

For many school districts, the first day of classes is only weeks away. Thanks to the Trump administration, educators across the country suddenly don’t know if they’ll have the funds to support students and provide critical services.

On June 30, the Department of Education announced it was withholding nearly $7 billion from public schools. In a three-sentence email sent to the states, the agency said it was “reviewing” five different funding grants. Some of the affected programs deal with support for English learners, after-school programs, teacher professional development, and adult education.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the email said.

This week, 24 states and Washington, D.C., responded to the freeze by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the withholding of funds is illegal and would come at a great cost to students across the country. In particular, one group has found, red states would be among the hardest hit.

“Defendants’ actions now jeopardize these critical programs—the loss of which has irreparably harmed and will irreparably harm the Plaintiff States, their schools, and the students and families they serve,” the suit said.