The Trump administration has announced plans to unfreeze billions of dollars in education funding, much to the relief of school districts facing significant budget gaps just weeks before the new school year begins.
This decision comes after an unexpected hold was placed on funding that was originally scheduled for distribution to states on July 1.
The Education Department confirmed on Friday that a programmatic review of the funding was now complete, and the money would be made available next week.
Earlier this month, the White House Office of Management and Budget indicated in initial findings that many of the grant programs had been ‘grossly abused to promote a radical leftwing DEI agenda.’
This statement prompted a response from at least ten Senate Republicans, who opposed the assessment in a formal letter.
A senior official from the administration stated that measures would be implemented to ensure the released funds would not be used contrary to President Donald Trump’s policies, although no specific details regarding these measures were provided.
Facing bipartisan pressure, the White House is now poised to release Congress-approved funding.
In a prior announcement, the administration indicated it would unfreeze $1.3 billion intended for after-school and summer programming.
On Friday, they extended this decision to include an additional $5.5 billion aimed at supporting teacher training, aiding English language learners, educating migrant children, and boosting adult literacy initiatives.
The delay in funding had significant ramifications across school districts nationwide, as highlighted by a recent survey of 628 superintendents across 43 states.
The results revealed that nearly three out of four respondents believed they would have been forced to eliminate essential academic services for students had the frozen funds not been restored.
During a National Governors Association meeting, Colorado Governor Jared Polis raised concerns about the situation, asking Education Secretary Linda McMahon how the administration could improve communication to prevent future chaos regarding funding.
McMahon acknowledged the challenges, stating, ‘No guarantees from me that will eliminate all the communication gaffes that do happen, but I can’t say part of it is just the transition aspect.’
She expressed optimism that, with the review of this funding process, such issues could be mitigated in the future.
President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for 2026 includes plans to eliminate or scale back certain education programs that were affected by the recent funding freeze.
When questioned about whether Trump might reconsider his budget request to Congress in light of the backlash over the funding hiatus, the White House Office of Management and Budget did not provide a direct response.
In addition, President Trump has made clear his intent to dismantle the Education Department within the bounds of the law, as he seeks to shift vital functions to various federal agencies.
This initiative has gained momentum following a recent Supreme Court ruling that facilitates mass layoffs, allowing the administration to move forward for the time being.
image source from：wgal
