Lawmakers Across Political Spectrum Warn Trump’s K-12 Funding Freeze is Already Harming Students and Schools Nationwide
Lawmakers, school districts, state leaders, and attorneys general are all sounding the alarm that President Trump’s unconstitutional withholding of $6.8 billion—including about $30 million for Rhode Island—in federal funds that Congress appropriated for K-12 education programs is harming students, teachers, and public schools nationwide.
Despite a July 1 disbursement date enshrined in federal law, President Trump is withholding key federal K-12 funds for states and local school districts under the auspicious guise of an “ongoing programmatic review.” Trump’s abrupt freeze of this critical public school funding and adult education investment came just ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s six Republican-appointed justices clearing the way for the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education at President Trump’s behest.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) recently called on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release the $6.8 billion in funds for K-12 schools that the Trump Administration is withholding. Yesterday, ten Senate Republicans backed that call by sending a letter urging the Trump Administration to change course to avoid disrupting essential school services, such as summer instruction, teacher training, and after-school programs, as well as adult education programs that are critical to success in the workplace.
Attorneys General from 24 states—including Rhode Island—are also responding to President Trump’s efforts to undermine public schools by filing a lawsuit describing the freeze on funds as unconstitutional and “debilitating” to states just weeks ahead of a new school year.
Due to the budget uncertainty caused by President Trump’s war on public education, officials have noted that some statewide education programs have already been forced to close their doors completely due to the loss of funds. Both Democratic and Republican Governors and state education chiefs in Arizona, Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and more have rebuked Trump’s education funding freeze.
“President Trump is needlessly causing budgetary chaos and making it harder for public schools to budget for the coming academic year. Furthermore, he is taking away opportunities for working-class people to build their skills, advance economically, and meet employers’ needs. I appreciate my ten Republican colleagues speaking up, but frankly, more Republicans should actively oppose this unconstitutional impoundment. School districts responsibly budgeted months in advance, and President Trump is needlessly making it harder for them to hire, support, and retain good teachers. Schools are now left scrambling through no fault of their own and forced into difficult staffing and programmatic cuts,” said Senator Reed.
Reed also noted: “In addition to freezing these funds and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Trump’s 2026 budget proposal would cut federal education funding by 15 percent. It would cut off opportunities for students and set back America’s future workforce. President Trump allocated so much money to tax windfalls for billionaires that he is now trying to shortchange K-12 students.”
According to an analysis from New America, “The 100 school districts that would see the worst losses per pupil are heavily concentrated in Republican-represented Congressional districts (91, compared with nine in Democrat-represented Congressional districts).”
One of the things keeping me going is living in a state where our AG is using the power of his office to fight back against the current administration. When I think of what it must be like for educators in say, Oklahoma? Heartbreaking.
From a Senator Jack Reed press release:
Lawmakers Across Political Spectrum Warn Trump’s K-12 Funding Freeze is Already Harming Students and Schools Nationwide
Lawmakers, school districts, state leaders, and attorneys general are all sounding the alarm that President Trump’s unconstitutional withholding of $6.8 billion—including about $30 million for Rhode Island—in federal funds that Congress appropriated for K-12 education programs is harming students, teachers, and public schools nationwide.
Despite a July 1 disbursement date enshrined in federal law, President Trump is withholding key federal K-12 funds for states and local school districts under the auspicious guise of an “ongoing programmatic review.” Trump’s abrupt freeze of this critical public school funding and adult education investment came just ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s six Republican-appointed justices clearing the way for the downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education at President Trump’s behest.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) recently called on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release the $6.8 billion in funds for K-12 schools that the Trump Administration is withholding. Yesterday, ten Senate Republicans backed that call by sending a letter urging the Trump Administration to change course to avoid disrupting essential school services, such as summer instruction, teacher training, and after-school programs, as well as adult education programs that are critical to success in the workplace.
Attorneys General from 24 states—including Rhode Island—are also responding to President Trump’s efforts to undermine public schools by filing a lawsuit describing the freeze on funds as unconstitutional and “debilitating” to states just weeks ahead of a new school year.
Due to the budget uncertainty caused by President Trump’s war on public education, officials have noted that some statewide education programs have already been forced to close their doors completely due to the loss of funds. Both Democratic and Republican Governors and state education chiefs in Arizona, Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and more have rebuked Trump’s education funding freeze.
“President Trump is needlessly causing budgetary chaos and making it harder for public schools to budget for the coming academic year. Furthermore, he is taking away opportunities for working-class people to build their skills, advance economically, and meet employers’ needs. I appreciate my ten Republican colleagues speaking up, but frankly, more Republicans should actively oppose this unconstitutional impoundment. School districts responsibly budgeted months in advance, and President Trump is needlessly making it harder for them to hire, support, and retain good teachers. Schools are now left scrambling through no fault of their own and forced into difficult staffing and programmatic cuts,” said Senator Reed.
Reed also noted: “In addition to freezing these funds and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Trump’s 2026 budget proposal would cut federal education funding by 15 percent. It would cut off opportunities for students and set back America’s future workforce. President Trump allocated so much money to tax windfalls for billionaires that he is now trying to shortchange K-12 students.”
According to an analysis from New America, “The 100 school districts that would see the worst losses per pupil are heavily concentrated in Republican-represented Congressional districts (91, compared with nine in Democrat-represented Congressional districts).”
One of the things keeping me going is living in a state where our AG is using the power of his office to fight back against the current administration. When I think of what it must be like for educators in say, Oklahoma? Heartbreaking.
Once again Trump is trying to harm RI, and AG Nerhona has our back. Thank you!!