The Trump administration withheld $6.8 billion in federal education funding from states on Monday, blocking money that was scheduled by law to reach school districts on July 1 for programs serving English learners, migrant students, and teacher training. The move left thousands of districts scrambling to cover staff salaries and student services they had already planned for the upcoming school year.
The freeze affects five major grant programs that represent more than 10 percent of federal K-12 spending in 33 states, according to the Learning Policy Institute. California alone will miss $811 million in expected funding.
Schools received just hours of notice through an unsigned, 84-word email from the Education Department Monday afternoon stating the agency would not issue grant awards while conducting a review to ensure spending aligns with "the President's priorities"12. The affected programs include $2.2 billion for teacher professional development, $1.4 billion for before- and after-school programs, $890 million for English-learner services, $1.3 billion for academic enrichment, and $375 million for migrant education2.
"Schools need these funds to hire key staff and educate students this summer and in the upcoming school year," said Carissa Moffat Miller of the Council of Chief State School Officers3. Ray Hart of the Council of the Great City Schools said districts were counting on the money to pay teachers and principals and provide summer school4.
California Superintendent Tony Thurmond called the action illegal, stating "Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year"1. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said the move represents "another illegal usurpation of the authority of the Congress"2.
Senator Patty Murray, who sits on the Senate education committee, said the holdup has forced schools to delay hiring and pause student initiatives3. If the administration doesn't act within 45 days and Congress doesn't agree to rescind the funding, federal law requires the money be distributed4.
The frozen programs align with Trump's proposed budget cuts for fiscal 2026, which would eliminate or consolidate more than 40 federal K-12 programs1. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has described the department as "responsibly winding down" while proposing $12 billion in cuts21.
The department recently announced new grant priorities emphasizing school choice and eliminating programs focused on diversity and equity3. The funding freeze represents the administration's most direct challenge yet to congressionally approved education spending.
