The Trump administration recently announced plans to withhold approximately $6.8 billion in federal education funding, affecting various programs nationwide. This includes at least $811 million earmarked for California, aimed at supporting students learning English, children from migrant families, and enhancing teacher training and after-school programs.
On Tuesday, officials clarified that no final decision had been made regarding the release of these funds. They cited concerns about how some of the money was used, claiming it contradicted the administration’s policies. Critics, including California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, expressed outrage, calling the move illegal and harmful to students.
Thurmond stated, “There have been many rumors about the Trump administration cutting education funding, and now that rumors have become reality, it is worse than we imagined.” He emphasized that withholding these funds would negatively impact students and could lead to legal challenges from state officials.
The American Federation of Teachers also condemned the administration’s decision, labeling it an illegal freeze on essential funding. Meanwhile, a senior official from the administration disputed the term “freeze,” insisting that a programmatic review was underway and no decisions had been finalized.
The withheld funds include key programs like Title III-A, which supports English learners, and Title I-C, which assists children of migrant workers. Other affected programs provide training for teachers and support for technology in classrooms. Although these funds represent less than 1% of California’s overall education budget, they are critical for many schools that have already planned their budgets around this money.
The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to use its reserves to cover the shortfall while pushing for the release of the federal funds. This situation is particularly concerning as many school districts had already hired staff and set up programs based on the expectation of receiving these funds.
The administration’s rationale for withholding funding stems from claims that some programs promote multilingualism and illegal immigration, which it opposes. Officials pointed to instances where funds were allegedly used to advocate for illegal immigration, a claim that local educators dispute. They argue that programs designed to help English learners are essential for integrating these students into the education system.
Advocates for education funding warn that the impact of these cuts could be severe. Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, noted that without these funds, there could be an increase in unsupervised children, academic failures, and higher dropout rates.
The funding hold has sparked a conflict between the federal government and local educators, especially in states that lean Democratic. Legal challenges are expected, as federal law typically prohibits the executive branch from withholding congressionally appropriated funds without approval from Congress.
As the situation unfolds, the future of education funding for millions of students hangs in the balance.