Chalkbeat

The Trump administration will release billions in frozen education funds after widespread outcry, including from Republican members of Congress, about the devastating impacts. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, announced Friday on the social media platform X that the funds would be released. Education Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications Madi Biedermann confirmed the news. The White House Office for Management and Budget has completed its review, Biedermann said in an email, and told the Education Department to release the money. “The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week,” she said.

The Trump administration notified states on June 30 that they would be holding back roughly $6.8 billion in education funds that were due to arrive on July 1. That money includes funding for services related to English learners, migrant students, teacher training, and enrichment and afterschool programs, and adult education. An OMB spokesperson said the money was under review for alignment with Trump administration priorities, and that some money had gone to support a left-wing agenda, a charge that districts and states denied. Republican members of Congress signed onto a public letter calling for the money to be released. Democratic attorneys general and governors sued, demanding that the money be restored.