Latest news with #TitleII
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Trump withheld billions from schools. Now he's giving it back.
Madi Biedermann, a deputy assistant secretary for communications at the White House, told USA TODAY in an email July 25 the agency's review of the money complete and the agency will begin disbursing funds to states next week. "OMB has completed its review of Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds, and has directed the Department to release all formula funds," Biedermann wrote. The Trump administration announced that it released more than $1 billion of the paused funding to schools for after-school and summer learning programs on July 18. The release of the funds completes the review, she said. White House unfreezes: $1 billion for after-school, summer programs The move comes after a period of anxiety among school leaders and mounting pressure from those concerned about what the funding freeze would mean for the fall. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, who championed the release of the paused funding, posted on X, telling his constituents about "exciting news to announce!" "All frozen education funding for the upcoming school year have been released, following my letter to the OMB!" he said. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@ Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
UPI
6 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Education Department releases $7 billion held from schools nationwide
July 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Education finished releasing more than $7 billion in funds for school programs nationwide after a pause at the start of July, an agency spokeswoman said Friday. Last week, $1.3 billion was released with more than $6 billion remaining. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget was reviewing the rest. "OMB has completed its review of Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds, and has directed the department to release all formula funds," said Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications for the Education Department, said in an email to media, including The Hill and ABC News. "The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week." Earlier, the Education Department didn't disperse routine payments for schools that include money for after-school and summer activities, classes for non-English learners and adults, and teacher preparation. The funding was authorized by Congress and was due July 1, before the start of the school year. The school districts were notified of the pause one day before. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican serving West Virginia, had pushed for the funds' release. She and nine colleagues had written a letter to OMB. "This supports critical programs so many West Virginians rely on and I made that clear to OMB Director Vought," Capito posted on X. In a news release Friday, she said: "The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children, which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies, and programs to support adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education." Also, 24 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed suit July 14 seeking the funds' release. A coalition of school districts, teachers' unions, nonprofits and parents sued Monday in Rhode Island. Originally, the White House said the pause was because money was going to the "radical left-wing agenda." Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told ABC News on Thursday: "We want to make sure that we have the right focus on what we're trying to do with our students." She said it could be released by the end of the year. An administration official told The Washington Post that unspecified "guardrails" were put on the money so they align with the policy. More than 200 superintendents went to senators' offices to seek an end to the freeze. David Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association, applauded the change. "On the heels of our survey released Tuesday, detailing how disruptive withholding these funds would be for our nation's students, we thank our members and allies on the Hill," Schuler said in a statement. "We appreciate their tireless advocacy, communication and outreach to the Administration about the importance of releasing these critical funds." The Education Department's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget is $66.7 billion, which is a 15.3% reduction , or $12 billion, from the previous year. President Donald Trump wants to dismantle the Education Department, with states and other federal agencies taking over the dispersal of funds, including student loans and other programs. On July 14, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed for mass firings by lifting an injunction while litigation proceeds. In March, the agency's workforce was slashed in half, with 1,378 terminated. The high court didn't rule on abolishing the agency, which must be approved by Congress.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Trump administration will return more than $5B in public school funding it withheld
The Trump administration says it will return the remaining more than $5 billion in funding that it previously withheld from public schools for nearly a month, alleviating school administrators' anxiety about federal funding hurdles for the 2025-2026 school year. The federal government froze the money on June 30 to allow for the White House's Office of Management and Budget to review nearly $7 billion allocated for schools. Madi Biedermann, a deputy assistant secretary for communications at the White House, told USA TODAY in an email July 25 the agency's review of the money complete and the agency will begin disbursing funds to states next week. 'OMB has completed its review of Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds, and has directed the Department to release all formula funds," Biedermann wrote. The Trump administration announced that it released more than $1 billion of the paused funding to schools for after-school and summer learning programs on July 18. The release of the funds completes the review, she said. White House unfreezes: $1 billion for after-school, summer programs The move comes after a period of anxiety among school leaders and mounting pressure from those concerned about what the funding freeze would mean for the fall. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, who championed the release of the paused funding, posted on X, telling his constituents about "exciting news to announce!" 'All frozen education funding for the upcoming school year have been released, following my letter to the OMB!' he said. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@ Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Department says 59,000 tons of food assistance are in motion after reports of incinerated aid
FIRST ON FOX: The State Department says it is working swiftly to distribute tens of thousands of tons of food aid around the globe, pushing back on reports that the U.S. was preparing to incinerate hundreds of tons of stockpiled supplies before they could be delivered. According to figures shared with Fox News Digital, the agency currently has 59,305 metric tons of in-kind food commodities stored in warehouses across the United States and abroad. "We have already programmed all the food expiring before October 2026," a senior State Department official said. "The idea that we have tons of expiring food we are letting go to waste is simply false." The State Department says it has approved 44,422 metric tons of food to be transferred or reprogrammed through partnerships with the World Food Program (WFP), Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, and Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA). That includes 30,000 tons of short-dated food supplies already programmed for delivery to crisis zones like Syria, Bangladesh, and Sudan. Rubio Officially Kills Usaid, Reveals Future Home For Foreign Assistance Programs An additional 12,000 tons of aid is awaiting final reprogramming, a delay the department attributes to a temporary hold by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Title II apportionments — an issue officials say has now been resolved. Read On The Fox News App "To the extent there is a delay that is causing operational problems, it is not from the State Department," the official said. "All of the food expiring in the next 16 months is accounted for." The official also dismissed recent media coverage, arguing that the focus on a limited amount of food near expiration distorts the larger picture. "The very small portion — less than 1% of USAID's food stockpiles — addressed by the mainstream media was the exception that distracts from a very extensive and orderly process we directed to ensure that all of the food was accounted for in an efficient and strategic manner." The public defense comes after several outlets reported that the Trump administration ordered the incineration of roughly 500 metric tons of emergency food stored in Dubai as it neared expiration. According to Reuters, while 622 tons were successfully redirected to countries including Syria, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, another 496 tons — valued at $793,000 — were destroyed, with an additional $100,000 in disposal costs. The incident occurred as part of a broader restructuring of U.S. foreign aid policy. In early July, the Trump administration officially dissolved USAID, transferring authority over development and humanitarian programs to the State Department. That shift has been accompanied by efforts to rescind billions of dollars in foreign assistance. A temporary aid pause in January prompted the former State Department inspector general to warn that as much as $500 million worth of food aid was at risk of expiring. However, the department says assistance is now back online under a restructured model. State Department Reveals Plan To Deliver 'Life-saving' Meals To 1.4M Starving Children With USAID phased out, the State Department is now responsible for managing large-scale aid programs, and it is under pressure to deliver. Lawmakers and aid groups are closely watching to see whether the newly reprogrammed food aid reaches intended recipients. Democrats seized on the incineration reports during congressional hearings this week, accusing the Trump administration of turning its back on urgent humanitarian needs. The reports were first published by The Atlantic. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the administration's vision for foreign assistance, saying he was abandoning what he called a "charity-based model" in favor of empowering growth and self-reliance in developing nations. "We will favor those nations that have demonstrated both the ability and willingness to help themselves," Rubio wrote, "and will target our resources to areas where they can have a multiplier effect and catalyze durable private sector — including American companies — and global investment." The new approach is designed to emphasize trade and investment over direct aid, and to position the U.S. to better counter China's growing global article source: State Department says 59,000 tons of food assistance are in motion after reports of incinerated aid Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Detroit schools at risk of losing over $16 million as US federal education funds are withheld
Detroit schools at risk of losing over $16 million in US federal funding freeze. Detroit Public Schools, already grappling with some of the highest poverty rates in the country, are facing a major financial setback as more than $16 million in federal education funding is being withheld. The White House has paused the release of $6.2 billion in education funds across the country, impacting hundreds of school districts. But Detroit ranks among the hardest hit, raising urgent questions about how schools will prepare for the upcoming academic year without the support they were legally promised. Although the funds were approved by Congress and signed into law under the Trump administration, the delay in distribution is now threatening key programs that support teacher development, after-school learning, mental health services, and English learners. What programs are being affected The withheld funding covers five major federal education programs: Educator development (Title II) Student enrichment and support (Title IV) Migrant education Support for English language learners 21st Century Community Learning Centers While full data for migrant education is not available, the other four programs account for a projected $81.6 million loss in Michigan. This equals about $65 per student statewide, according to data compiled by the education policy group New America. Detroit alone stands to lose more than $16 million, with some of the steepest losses nationally in programs aimed at supporting low-income and vulnerable students. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elevate Business Writing With This Desktop App Grammarly Learn More Undo Detroit's poverty rate and high dependency on federal aid Detroit Public Schools serve one of the most economically disadvantaged student populations in the country. The district has the highest school-age poverty rate (46.9 percent) among 46 states. These schools heavily rely on federal programs to fund after-school services, academic enrichment, teacher training, and student wellness initiatives. Because many of these programs are tied to poverty-related formulas, Detroit is more dependent on them than wealthier districts. A pause in this funding puts not only programs but student learning and staff planning at immediate risk. Democratic districts bearing the brunt in Michigan In Michigan, the funding freeze is hitting school districts represented by Democrats harder than those represented by Republicans. Democratic districts are projected to lose $45 million, compared to $36.6 million for Republican districts. Average loss per district in Democratic areas: $7.5 million Average loss in Republican areas: $5.2 million On a per-student basis, Democratic-led districts are expected to lose $84 per student, while Republican-led ones would lose $51 per student. This pattern is a sharp contrast to the national trend, where Republican-led districts are seeing larger per-student cuts. The unique situation in Michigan is partly due to Detroit's heavy dependence on federal aid and its inclusion among the top ten districts at highest risk. The hardest-hit districts: Detroit takes centre stage The congressional district represented by Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) is facing the highest per-student funding loss in the country: $210 per student. Rep. Rashida Tlaib's district, also in Detroit, is next in line, with a projected loss of $87 per student. These losses are especially concerning given that these districts already contend with widespread poverty, staffing shortages, and limited local funding alternatives. The funding freeze comes at a time of added financial instability. The Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives failed to pass the state's education budget by the July 1 deadline, compounding the uncertainty. With federal and state budgets unresolved, school districts are unable to plan effectively. Even if they attempt to temporarily cover program costs using local or reserve funds, federal regulations may prevent them from reallocating those funds later when and if the federal money is finally released. What this means for students and educators The loss of funding could lead to scaled-back after-school programs, reduced access to mental health services, delays in curriculum development, and less training for teachers. These setbacks may be most deeply felt in Detroit's most vulnerable communities, where such support is essential. Beyond the financial impact, there is also a symbolic cost. The delay sends a discouraging message to students and families in already underserved areas, especially as they prepare to return to school in just a few weeks. A school year clouded by uncertainty With over $16 million at stake and the school year fast approaching, Detroit Public Schools are caught in a storm of political delay and financial ambiguity. For students already navigating the challenges of poverty and educational inequity, the funding freeze could not come at a worse time. Unless urgent action is taken at both the federal and state levels, Detroit's students and educators may find themselves starting the academic year with fewer resources, reduced support, and more uncertainty than ever. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
