The plaintiffs say the freeze is illegal, while the administration says some grants had been designated for left-wing causes and ideological programs.
A coalition of school districts, teachers’ unions, parents, and advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of unlawfully freezing some $6.8 billion in education funds Congress had earmarked for programs such as after-school care.
Filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island on July 21, the lawsuit targets the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The plaintiffs say the administration failed to meet a statutory July 1 deadline to release funds appropriated by Congress for after-school care, summer programming, English learner instruction, migrant education, and teacher training.
“For years, the Department has carried out these statutory mandates without incident,” the complaint states, noting that funds historically have been distributed on July 1.
On June 30, the Education Department informed states that it would not be issuing grant award notifications as scheduled, citing a new policy to review the programs to ensure the funds are spent in line with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
“Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year,” the department said in a June 30 statement to the Texas Education Agency.
“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.”
In a motion for a preliminary injunction, the plaintiffs argue that the funding freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Impoundment Control Act, and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers.
“Defendants’ actions have already resulted in mass chaos and irreparable harm,” the motion states, warning that schools are now canceling programs, laying off staff, and curtailing services for vulnerable students.
The department has not provided a timeline for concluding its review. The Education Department and OMB did not respond to requests for comment from The Epoch Times.
By Tom Ozimek
