On Friday, the Trump administration announced it will finally distribute billions of dollars in stalled education funds that had been under review for weeks, according to a senior official in the administration.
A sum of around $1.3 billion for after-school initiatives was released last week, and now, we’re seeing the remaining balance of nearly $7 billion that had been withheld. This includes financial support for teacher training and programs aimed at helping students who are learning English, among other essential needs.
The officials stated that they have set up “guardrails” for this federal funding, ensuring that grantees won’t use the money in ways that might conflict with any of President Trump’s executive orders or administration policies.
This move follows growing bipartisan concerns expressed by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The freezing of funding had left local education leaders and school districts in distress, needing to scramble to adjust their budgets.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a leading Republican overseeing education funding, commented, “The education formula funding included in the FY2025 Continuing Resolution Act supports essential programs that many depend on. These initiatives enjoy robust bipartisan backing.”
An influential group of Republican senators, led by Capito, notably challenged the White House’s budget director Russ Vought to act on releasing the school aid, marking a significant moment within the party.
On the day of the announcement, several other Republican leaders also expressed their approval of the funding’s release. Senator Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) mentioned that he anticipates the funding will “undoubtedly have a positive impact” on his state. Additionally, Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who had previously advocated for the funds, commended the decision as well.
Pressure from various state, local, and federal figures has been mounting, calling for the distribution of these withheld funds amid anxieties from school districts on how to fill budget gaps without the federal assistance that was approved for fiscal 2025.
Senator Patty Murray, the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed frustration, stating, “There’s absolutely no justification for the chaos and anxiety inflicted on students, teachers, and parents by this president over the past month. It should not take widespread backlash for the administration to do its duty and release the necessary funds to support our students.”
Murray further emphasized, “This administration only deserves blame for managing to avert a crisis they themselves caused.”
Juan Perez Jr. contributed to this report.
