Trump Freezes $7B in School Funding Weeks Before Fall Classes Begin

With only weeks left before schools reopen, the Trump administration has frozen nearly $7 billion in public education funds, sending districts nationwide into financial uncertainty.

On June 30, the Department of Education abruptly announced a pause on five major funding grants via a three-sentence email to all 50 states. The affected programs include support for English language learners, teacher professional development, after-school care, and adult education.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities,” the message read.

24 States Sue Trump Administration Over Illegal Funding Freeze

In response, 24 states and Washington, D.C. have filed a lawsuit, claiming the funding freeze is illegal under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which bars the executive branch from withholding congressionally approved funds.

“These funds are not optional,” said Zahava Stadler of New America. “States budget around them, hire staff, and serve students who depend on these programs.”

States warn that the freeze will disrupt services, force teacher layoffs, and disproportionately harm low-income, rural, and immigrant students.

Red States Take the Biggest Hit

While Trump has made targeting Democratic-led states a political priority, the cuts will also devastate Republican-leaning areas. According to New America, 9 of the 10 districts losing the most per-student funding are in GOP-controlled congressional districts.

Oklahoma, for example, stands to lose $70 million — nearly 11% of its school budget.

Despite the blow, Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Trump ally, praised the move:

“We appreciate that the Trump administration is ensuring our tax dollars align with conservative education values.”

A Direct Blow to Public Education

Beyond the funding freeze, Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education and initiated mass layoffs. The U.S. Supreme Court recently greenlit his plan to eliminate nearly 1,400 federal education jobs, slashing the agency’s workforce by nearly half.

“Districts can’t sit back and wait,” Stadler warned. “They must plan now, even if it means deciding which students’ rights they can afford to protect.”

The decision comes amid an ongoing culture war over public education, with conservatives attacking racial justice programs, COVID-19 safety protocols, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools.

With funds frozen and the Department of Education gutted, public schools across America face one of their most uncertain years in decades.

Source: Huffpost