A group of ten Republican senators is calling on the Trump administration to reverse its decision to withhold over $6 billion in federal educational funding that has already been appropriated by Congress.
In a letter addressed to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, the senators argue that withholding these funds contradicts President Trump’s goal of decentralizing K-12 education and returning authority to the states.
The GOP senators assert that local leaders in states and school districts are best positioned to determine how the federal funding should be used, emphasizing the importance of local control in education.
“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” they wrote.
Typically, federal aid for schools is allocated annually on July 1; however, an Education Department memo obtained by ABC News revealed that aid was paused on June 30 as part of an ongoing review of education funding.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia led the effort, marking a rare instance of dissent among Republicans regarding the president’s educational policies.
As chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Capito has been a strong advocate of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and her plans to reform the Education Department.
The letter encourages Vought to promptly release the appropriated funds, which were granted in a short-term spending bill passed earlier in the spring.
The paused funding is intended for a variety of educational services, including after-school programs, student support, English language education, and adult education.
This letter comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by approximately two dozen state attorneys general and Democratic governors against the Trump administration, addressing the prolonged funding review that has educators anxious as the new school year approaches.
Senators voiced their collective commitment to fostering an environment where all students, including adult learners and English language learners, can succeed.
“We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive, whether they are adult learners, students who speak English as a second language, or students who need after-school care so that their parents can work. We believe you share the same goal,” the letter asserts.
Education leaders, such as Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey, expressed frustration over the administration’s decision to halt congressionally approved funds, especially as the school year nears.
“We’re talking about transparency and consistency and making good on a promise,” Mackey stated in an interview.
“The funding will directly impact programs that Congress has already authorized, and just three weeks before school starts, you find out that the check is not coming.”
While the senators expressed their concerns over how taxpayer money is being managed, the Education Department referred inquiries about the funding pause to the OMB.
An OMB official stated that many of the programs in question had reportedly misused government funds to promote what they described as a “radical left-wing agenda.”
The Impoundment Control Act mandates that Congress must assess and review any executive branch withholding of budget authorities, with OMB required to specify the duration of such proposed deferrals.
Although no decisions have been made regarding the funding, the OMB spokesperson reinforced their intention to be cautious in dealing with taxpayer funds.
“However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds,” the senators urged in their letter.
In a related development, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to lift an injunction has empowered the Trump administration to move forward with efforts to dismantle the Education Department entirely.
Such significant changes would necessitate congressional approval, and it remains to be seen how this will unfold.
Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, another signatory of the letter, has introduced legislation called “Returning Education to Our States,” aimed at block-granting funds to states and redistributing responsibilities of the Education Department to other agencies.
However, it is important to note that this proposed legislation has not been deliberated in the Senate this year and is expected to face challenges due to the need for 60 ‘yes’ votes.
The other Republican senators who signed onto the letter include Susan Collins of Maine, John Boozman of Arkansas, Katie Britt of Alabama, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Jim Justice of West Virginia, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
image source from：abcnews
