Court

Vermont among states suing Trump administration over education funding freeze

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by Esther Wickham, for The Center Square

(The Center Square) — California, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada are part of a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia, suing the Trump administration for withholding $6.8 billion in federal education funding.

These states are calling this freeze unconstitutional, unlawful and an arbitrary decision.

“By freezing $132 million in funds owed to Arizona’s students, President Trump and his administration are increasing costs for Arizona’s schools, cities, and families,” said Attorney General Mayes in a news release. “It’s unlawful for President Trump to hold up this education funding and wreak havoc on Arizona’s students and families — and it’s having an immediate and devastating impact.” 

“This is essential education funding that Trump is trying to slash. It will keep the lights on in our schools. It pays for supplies, and teachers, and school safety officers. The Trump administration is trying to take it for no reason,” said Mayes. “Arizona’s communities and families will have to scramble because the President is trying to rewrite the law. This will not stand. And I will continue to fight until we secure this funding for our students.” 

Each year on July 1, states receive their federal education funds Congress has allocated for the upcoming school year. 

An email from the U.S. Department of Education, sent to various departments of education across the country, stated the department would not be “issuing obligating funds” for six formula funding programs on July 1.

Since filing the lawsuit, Southwest states have echoed their support in obtaining such crucial federal funding for school programs. 

Nevada currently has $61 million frozen in education funding. 

“This is not just an unconstitutional and unlawful overreach of federal power; it is an attack on civic life that strengthens our communities and our democracy,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. “I stand with my colleagues in defending these critical areas of society, ensuring that Nevadans continue to have access to the humanities, which are essential for fostering an engaged public and thriving society.”

Colorado would be set to lose $80 million in federal education funding.

“I have heard directly from Colorado school superintendents how disruptive and reckless this arbitrary freeze of federal funding is to them,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a press release. “Schools deserve to be treated fairly, and this administration’s lack of regard for the impact of this lawless decision is appalling. I am proud to co-lead this case and will continue to ensure that this administration does not harm Colorado by acting in an illegal fashion.”

California would see $939 million cut from education funding. 

“With no rhyme or reason, the Trump Administration abruptly froze billions of dollars in education funding just weeks before the start of the school year,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release. “In doing so, it has threatened the existence of programs that provide critical after school and summer learning opportunities, that teach English to students, and that provide educational technology to our classrooms.”

Mayes joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, in filing the lawsuit.

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Categories: Court, Education, National News, State Government

17 replies »

  1. Re: “…..and an arbitrary decision.”

    Hardly. These States have been taking this funding under false pretense… that the monies would be used to educate our children, to equip them with the essential skills and knowledge necessary for personal development and to prepare them to contribute positively to their communities, … a pretense we now know to be a total fraud. The more money we pay these people, the fewer essential skills and knowledge our children receive and retain.

    That’s right. It’s not that we’re freezing the funding. We’re reallocating it to those we believe will actually do the job.

    These ‘deep state’ attorneys, and the system they represent, are nothing more than grifters and thieves. Because they know better.

    “One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.” — Milton Friedman

    “We shall not grow wiser before we learn that much that we have done was very foolish.” — F. A. Hayek

    “The task of weaning various people and groups from the national nipple will not be easy. The sound of whines, bawls, screams and invective will fill the air as the agony of withdrawal pangs finds voice.” — Linda Bowles

  2. Following the links in this article, it appears that Federal Funds were not released for 5 particular programs as shown below.

    “The Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review. The affected programs are: Title I-C for migrant education, Title II-A for professional development, Title III-A for English-learner services, Title IV-A for academic enrichment, and Title IV-B for before- and after-school programs.”

    Were these cuts previously allocated budget monies or, previously offered as optional “Grant Awards”?

    Is this a legitimate choice to decrease federal spending and/or the down-sizing of the Federal Dept. of Education?

    Down-sizing and making cuts to spending in any/all state and federal departments will be difficult. It’s time to face the many years of U.S. overspending that have built up our U.S. National Debt to over 37 Trillion Dollars.

    Some have to be the responsible grown-ups; to have the courage to make the tough decisions. What’s the alternative U.S. Bankruptcy?

    • The Vermont state education budget allocates 2 dollars per every English Language Learners,while English speaking students are allocated at 1 dollar. My immigrant descendents didn’t receive special education at the cost of taxpayers.

    • If you are correct on these allocations, what is academic enrichment? Sounds like teaching to me. Also like it or not, schools need funding for kids who english is a second language. There has always been students like this going back a hundred years with German and Italian children.
      After school programs are necessary for many kids with disabilities. Are we just telling parents we can’t help you? School taxes will go up again.
      We send billions to Isreal for bombs and they have free college and free healthcare. Tax cuts to wealthy and corporations are more important?
      There is plenty of money, the fesmds oerfer to spend 800 Billion on defence.

    • Dianna: The 2 to one dollar expense is extreme to say the least. I am a second generation American and my grandparents didn’t speak English. Amazingly enough they didn’t have any extra money thrown at them.

    • To Dianna: (post below)

      Please tell us where you believe the “plenty of money” is?

      This is the same thinking that has accumulated our over 37 Trillion United States National Debt.

  3. Let’s also please just gut the buildings full of useless school administrators that we seem to have collected.

  4. During its creation during the Carter Administration, the US Dept of Education it was said we are creating a supreme headquarters for a national teacher union, which has come true.

  5. Just a thought here …perhaps there should be a counter suit for lack of accountability and no performance tied to funds provided.?

    Vermont educational realization continues its slide to the abyss. Fueling the fire does not help.

  6. In about the mid sixties, the government was dangling free money for schools/ and teachers. I remember my math teacher on the fence saying it would be nice to have a lot of money for things we have to beg for or do without. On the other hand, we will have to give some teaching methods, local control, and will have to do as they tell us. I guess we chose the nanny state and gave up our freedom of local control and choices. I think taking away control of the feds and the state will be like a renaissance in education and lead to a better society.

    • they no longer listen or respond back unless its some intern with a boiler plate response. when i was a legislative breakfast this spring, a citizen got up to say i sent 120 emails to the legislaturators regarding an issue, how many did i get a response from, Zero! when i was on the campaign trail for house rep this past election i taken aback on how many tax payers said, my current reps dont ever respond back.
      the teachers union has to be downsize by money and power. if the propents of public eductaion want full disclosure, please tell us how much money the teacher unions contribute to campaign reps! it’s about power not education

  8. Please explain why do we elect and pay Senators and House Reps if the only thing they achieve in solving disagreements is to lawyer it up and then have the same tax payers pay for years of costs and time in law suits ?

    • Yes Libby! ……. and we need to find a Lawful, reasonable and responsible candidate for Vermont Attorney General in 2026. The present VT AG is a flagrant hypocrite as she acts like a “queen” who is above the Law.

      As the highest elected law enforcement officer in Vermont, Clark supports the ongoing violations of both the VT State and U.S. Constitutions along with many U.S. Federal Laws. At the same time, Clark frequently calls out President Trump for his actions she believes are above the Law.

      Since the President Trump’s Inauguration, Clark has been using the majority of her VT Taxpayer AG Resources for a multitude of ridiculous lawsuits against the Trump Administration, making her case of Trump Derangement Syndrome clearly evident.

      Let’s find a Candidate to Run for Vermont AG and VOTE HER OUT in 2026!!

    • Exactly Libby! I definitely don’t support them using my tax dollars for all these ignorant law suits! Do they actually have a right to do that? I’d really like to know the answer to that! 😡