Trump Freezes $6B in School Funds—Nation’s Classrooms Thrown Into Chaos
United States: On Monday, a sudden communiqué from the Trump administration to state governments revealed that more than $6 billion in already-approved educational grants were being placed on hold. This unforeseen move arrived mere hours ahead of the usual July 1 disbursement—sending tremors through districts nationwide that had been counting on the funds for fall planning.
Messages dispatched to state-level education offices cited a broad “administrative reevaluation” due to the presidential transition. The US Education Department clarified that it is scrutinizing FY 2025 allocations for several key initiatives—specifically Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, and IV-B. Decisions on how or when this money will be disbursed remain, as of now, suspended in uncertainty.
A copy of the message, verified by NPR through sources including The School Superintendents Association (AASA), confirmed that no allocations would proceed until this internal review concludes.
“This is genuinely without precedent,” noted Tara Thomas, the AASA’s government affairs lead. “School districts rely on consistent fiscal flows to plan responsibly. Moves like this generate chaos and instability on an institutional level."