Dear John,
Congress must demand that the Trump administration release $7 billion in public education funding, now.
Every school district, and every student, is at risk.
In a move that could devastate every school district in the country, the Trump administration is withholding nearly $7 billion in public education funding that Congress has already approved. This funding was set to reach local communities on July 1, but instead, it’s being blocked – threatening the educational futures of millions of children who are still trying to recover from the learning loss of the pandemic.
Every single state and every school district is affected. From rural communities to urban centers, public schools were counting on this funding for curriculum, teacher salaries, special programs, mental health services, and critical supports for English learners and migrant students.
Now, schools may be forced to lay off staff, cut after-school and summer learning programs, and increase class sizes – all while students need more individual attention, not less.
This money – authorized by Congress and signed into law by Trump himself as part of the March 2025 spending package – is not optional. It is legally mandated, and the Trump administration’s refusal to release it is a dangerous first step toward impoundment, a blatant violation of the Constitution’s requirement that the executive branch carry out the will of Congress.
Send a direct message to your Senators and Representative demanding they hold the Trump administration accountable and force the release of this critical public education funding – before classrooms, teachers, and students across America pay the price.
Already, nearly 16,500 school districts that rely on this funding are being forced to make impossible decisions: whether to cut professional development for 1.9 million educators, reduce support services, or eliminate programs altogether.
Nearly 1 in 5 districts that use these funds to reduce class sizes may now be forced to pack more students into each room – at a time when students need more attention to catch up from years of disrupted learning.
Programs that serve low-income families and English learners are especially at risk. Title III and migrant education funds support family workshops, supplemental English instruction, and professional development – all of which help 5 million English learners build the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Without this funding, their futures hang in the balance.
As many as 926 Boys and Girls Clubs serving over 220,000 children are preparing to close programs – or shut down entirely – in the coming weeks.
After-school and summer learning opportunities, which help working families and boost and help sustain academic progress, will vanish just when they’re needed most.
We can’t let this happen. These funds were appropriated by Congress. They are needed. And the consequences of inaction will fall hardest on the children with the fewest resources.
Send a direct message to your Congress members to insist they demand the release of this essential public education funding, affecting every school district in the country now.
Thank you for speaking up for all America’s children, and the dedicated professionals who are devoted to their education and well being.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
