More than 20 states have filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump regarding the freezing of approximately $6.8 billion in funding for after-school, summer programs, and other educational initiatives. The lawsuit, initiated by attorneys general or governors from 24 states and the District of Columbia, was submitted in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island.
Legal Claims and Implications
The states argue that the US Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have created chaos in schools across America by unjustly freezing funding for six programs approved by Congress. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson told ABC News:
“This is plainly against the law. From a legal standpoint, this is against the Constitution, against the Impoundment Act. This is not a hard case.”
According to the Impoundment Control Act of 1947, Congress must be informed and review any budget authority withholdings by the executive branch. This law requires the President to report any such actions to Congress.
Impacted Programs and Communities
The freeze not only affects funding for traditional education but also encompasses money used to support migrant farm workers and their children’s education, recruitment and training of teachers, and initiatives for English proficiency, among others. The lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration was legally required to release these funds to the states by July 1. However, the Department of Education informed states on June 30 that the funds would not be released, citing a change in administration as the reason.
An OMB spokesperson indicated there was an ongoing “programmatic review” of education funding, claiming initial findings suggested a misuse of grant funds to “subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.” The department raised concerns about grant money being used for scholarships for immigrant students and LGBTQ-themed lessons.
Urgent Need for Action
The Democratic-led states argue that the funding freeze has led to the cancellation of summer school and after-school programs, leaving schools scrambling to fill budget gaps. They contend that the Trump administration has violated the US Constitution by disregarding Congress’s authority over spending and failing to follow the procedures outlined in the Impoundment Control Act.
Jackson further stated:
“If the courts don’t act promptly, the consequences will be dire.”
He warned that districts face immediate harm as the school year approaches, with a potential loss of up to 1,000 educators in the district.
Broader Impact on Education
Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey emphasized that these cuts would hit students with the “greatest need,” stating:
“The loss of funding for those rural, poor, high-poverty school districts will only make it more difficult to educate children in those communities.”
Christy Gleason, executive director of the Save the Children Action Network, which provides after-school programming for 41 schools in rural areas:
“Time is of the essence. It’s not too late to make a decision, so the kids who really need this still have it.”
