- The Trump administration is releasing over $6 billion in federal education funds that were withheld since July 1.
- The grants support after-school programs, summer learning, adult literacy, and ESL instruction.
- Bipartisan lawmakers pushed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to release the funds.
- Republican senators defended the grants, stating they do not support “radical left-wing programs.”
The Big Picture
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration confirmed Friday it will release billions in federal education funding that had been frozen for weeks, citing the completion of a spending review. According to Associated Press, a senior administration official said the funding will now be distributed to states and school districts for programs already approved by Congress.
Background
On July 1, the administration placed a hold on more than $6 billion in grants dedicated to after-school and summer enrichment programs, adult education, and English language instruction. The delay stemmed from a White House effort to evaluate whether the spending aligned with President Donald Trump’s education and budget priorities.
The freeze impacted dozens of programs critical to under-resourced communities, forcing state education officials to postpone or cancel summer offerings and delay staffing decisions.
What They’re Saying
In a bipartisan letter sent to the Office of Management and Budget this week, Republican senators expressed concern over the impact of the withheld funding.
The letter emphasized that the funding had been lawfully appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Trump himself.
What’s Next
With the funds now released, state education departments and local school districts are expected to move quickly to resume delayed programs and provide services before the new school year. Lawmakers are urging the OMB to improve transparency to prevent future delays in critical federal education aid.
The Bottom Line
The resolution ends weeks of financial strain for schools and education agencies nationwide. While the administration cited a review process as necessary, critics warned that withholding such bipartisan-approved funding jeopardized trusted programs and created unnecessary disruption.
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