• President Trump’s administration will release $1.3 billion in after-school education funds following pressure from Republican senators and legal threats by states. The Education Department’s move ends a controversial freeze that disrupted programs serving low-income families, while billions more remain under review for political bias concerns.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — The Trump administration has agreed to release $1.3 billion in federal education grants previously withheld during a White House-led review of spending priorities, a reversal that comes amid mounting pressure from Senate Republicans and legal action by more than 20 states.

The funds—earmarked primarily for after-school and summer programming through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers—had been frozen since July 1 as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) examined whether such spending aligned with President Trump’s policy objectives. The freeze affected more than $6 billion in total, encompassing grants for adult literacy, English language instruction, and teacher development.

Republican Senators Intervene

Last week, ten Republican senators, led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, submitted a formal letter urging the administration to unfreeze at least part of the funding. The lawmakers emphasized that the grants in question had already been authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Trump himself.

“We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs,” the senators wrote. “However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.”

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The senators further argued that the withholding of education funds undermined President Trump’s own stated goal of empowering states and localities in the realm of K–12 education.

“This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent,” the letter stated.

Programs in Crisis

The freeze created immediate ripple effects across the country. Community organizations such as the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America warned of imminent closures and staff layoffs. Nonprofits and school districts reliant on the funds were forced to halt fall planning, cancel enrichment programs, and delay crucial hiring decisions.

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Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, welcomed the administration’s decision to release the funds but criticized the delay.

“While we are thrilled the funds will be made available,” Ms. Grant said, “the administration’s inexplicable delay in disbursing them caused massive chaos and harm.”

Legal Action Escalates

Even as $1.3 billion is now set to be distributed, approximately $5 billion in education grants remain under review by OMB. On Monday, California and more than 20 other states filed suit against the federal government, arguing that the freeze constitutes an unconstitutional withholding of appropriated funds.

“Districts should not be in this impossible position,” said David Schuler, executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association. “The remaining funds must be released immediately—America’s children are counting on it.”

The plaintiffs argue that the freeze not only disrupts local educational governance but also threatens vulnerable communities by cutting off critical access to after-school care, teacher training, and adult literacy instruction.

Competing Visions on Federal Oversight

The episode underscores a deeper debate over federal versus local control in education—a long-standing ideological fault line. President Trump’s education philosophy has consistently leaned toward reducing federal overreach and returning authority to states. In this context, the administration’s review of grant disbursements appears designed to ensure federal dollars are not subsidizing ideologically driven programming at odds with conservative priorities.

Still, the withholding of funds that were duly authorized and signed into law raises constitutional questions, particularly regarding the executive branch’s discretion in executing Congress’s power of the purse.

Senator Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, accused the administration of dereliction.

“At this very moment, schools nationwide are crunching the numbers to figure out how many teachers they will need to lay off,” Senator Murray said Friday. “Every penny of this funding must flow immediately.”

A Constitutional Tension Remains

As the White House weighs whether to release the remaining $5 billion in grants, a constitutional question looms: How far can a president go in interpreting—and potentially restricting—Congressional spending without running afoul of the separation of powers?

Whether the courts will side with the states or uphold the administration’s review authority remains to be seen. But the immediate reprieve for after-school programs offers some relief for families and local educators caught in the bureaucratic crossfire.

Should the executive branch have the power to delay or deny funding that Congress has already appropriated? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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