Trump administration withholds more than $100 million from Mass. schools
Trump proposed to eliminate the programs in question in
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The U.S. Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
However, in its notice to the states, it said, 'The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities.'
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Money is also being withheld for the Migrant Education Program, which educates migratory farm and fishery workers and their children, adult literacy programs, bullying prevention programs, and more.
The missing funds pose the most immediate threat to the summer learning programs, with many camps and other activities set to begin this week. Massachusetts was set to receive more than $20 million in summer and after school funding,
Boston Public Schools summer offerings will be largely unaffected, said Chris Smith, executive director of Boston Afterschool and Beyond, at an event Monday launching the city's 5th Quarter Initiative at Dorchester's Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts.
'They're part of the core city in Boston Public Schools budget because we have such strong leadership,' he said. 'So thankfully, we are full throttle on the fifth quarter for all 18,000 plus kids.'
The city does have some programs funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grants, which are being withheld, but even those will be 'very minimally cut' thanks to having dedicated city funds said district official Magaly Sanchez.
Mayor Michelle Wu, speaking after sparring with a student in the 5th Quarter program, said the city's recent budget process was focused on protecting investments in young people.
BPS does benefit from other funds among those cut, including more than $2 million each year in English language acquisition funds.
Jennifer Aldworth, executive director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, condemned the Trump administration move in the news release, saying it will affect more than 220,000 children attending Boys and Girls Club programs across the country. The Boys and Girls Club depends on the funding for some of its programs for low income students.
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'States and community-based organizations have already committed these funds to carry out programming for students and families,' Aldworth said. 'Failure to release this funding will result in summer camp closures, staff layoffs and closures of Boys & Girls Clubs ahead of the 2025-2026 school year — forcing working families to make tough decisions to support their children.'
The cuts are likely to set up another legal class between Democratic-led states like Massachusetts and the Trump administration. Just last week, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell joined other states in
In May, a federal judge forced the Trump administration to
This type of withholding of appropriated funds, known as impoundment, seems to violate the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, but Trump administration officials have argued
'Once again, the Trump administration is choosing the path of cruelty and chaos by waiting until the last possible moment to announce their unconstitutional decision to hold back funding,' state Senator Jason Lewis said in a statement. 'These actions will harm our students, increase the burden on working families, and put even more pressure on municipalities and school districts across the state that are struggling with their finances.'
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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at
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