Latest news with #WhiteHouseOfficeofManagementandBudget
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Trump administration to release over $6.4b school funding that it withheld, World News
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration will release more than US$5 billion (S$6.4 billion) in previously approved funding for K-12 school programs that it froze over three weeks ago under a review, which had led to bipartisan condemnation. Key quotes "[The White House Office of Management and Budget] has completed its review ... and has directed the Department to release all formula funds," Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the US Education Department, said in a statement, adding funds will be dispersed to states next week. Further details on the review and what it found were not shared. A senior administration official said "guardrails" would be in place for the amount being released, without giving details. Why it's important Early in July, the Trump administration said it would not release funding previously appropriated by Congress for schools and that an initial review found signs the money was misused to subsidize what it alleged was "a radical leftwing agenda". States say US$6.8 billion in total was affected by the freeze. Last week, US$1.3 billion was released. Context After the freeze, a coalition of mostly Democratic-led states sued to challenge the move, and 10 Republican US senators wrote to the Republican Trump administration to reverse its decision. The frozen money covered funding for education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment and after-school and summer programs. The Trump administration has threatened schools and colleges with withholding federal funds over issues like climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Reaction Republican US lawmakers welcomed the move on Friday (July 25), while Democratic lawmakers said there was no need to disrupt funding in the first place. Education Secretary Linda McMahon separately said she was satisfied with what was found in the review and released the money, adding she did not think there would be future freezes. ALSO READ: Harvard battles Trump administration in court over cancelled funding
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Federal education funding to be released, offering relief to Florida schools
Close to $400 million in federal grants promised to Florida school districts will be released by the Trump administration, according to reports. As of yesterday, the $35 million in funds promised to Miami-Dade County Public Schools remained frozen. Earlier this month, the figure was $10 million higher, but some funds were released for after-school programs. In Broward, at least $30 million in funds were promised to the school district and then frozen. Nationwide, more than $5 billion in public school funding had been placed on hold. The freeze began June 30, just one day before the grants were expected to arrive. The White House Office of Management and Budget has been reviewing the funds to determine whether they were being used to support a 'radical leftwing agenda.' 'It is incredible, encouraging news that we do not have to hold back on certain areas,' said Miami-Dade Superintendent Jose L. Dotres. 'It will allow us to continue improving the trajectory of the school district and the services we provide to our community.' Dotres had been lobbying lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to release the funding for the past few weeks, and had already started making cuts for the upcoming year, such as cutting purchases on textbook, supplies, and delaying certain teacher training programs. Now, the district will be able to proceed as usual. In Miami-Dade, the grants fund programs such as English language learning, science and technology innovation, teacher training, migrant education and adult education. John J. Sullivan, chief communications officer for Broward schools, said he is grateful the funds will soon be released. 'These critical resources allow us to continue providing essential services and supports for our students, families, and schools,' said Sullivan. Ron Steiger, the Miami-Dade school district's chief financial officer, said he received multiple texts with links to news articles announcing the release of funds. Though he has not yet received formal notice from the U.S. Department of Education, he said he was relieved. 'Nothing actually ended up harming anything,' he said, adding that he believed this outcome was the most likely all along. Two lawsuits related to the funding freeze are still active. One, brought by 24 states and the District of Columbia, asked a federal judge in Rhode Island to order the release of the funds. Florida was not a party to that suit. A second case was filed by a coalition of organizations—including the Florida Parent Teacher Association and P.S. 305, a Miami education advocacy group—in the same court. On Wednesday, a judge agreed to consider the two cases together. A hearing for emergency relief is scheduled for Aug. 13. Despite the administration's announcement, Florida PTA President-elect Jude Bruno said the legal challenge remains necessary. 'The harm still exists until school districts actually receive the funds or, at the very least, are issued award and grant issuance letters with clear timelines for when to expect them,' Bruno said in a text message to the Miami Herald. Mina Hosseini, executive director of P.S. 305 agreed that this is not the end of what she says is a school 'system chronically starved of resources.' 'The future of public education cannot be left vulnerable to political whims—it must be protected by the people,' she told the Miami Herald. An administrative assistant for Mari Tere Rojas, the chair of the Miami-Dade school board, said in a statement, 'These programs, which enjoy bipartisan support, are vital for the operation and functioning of our local public schools for this upcoming school year.' Ray Hart, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, a coalition of school districts, said in a statement that he is 'relieved' the Education Department has released the remainder of the funds authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 'for the benefit of schoolchildren throughout our nation.' School board member Steve Gallon also welcomed the news—but issued a warning. He expressed frustration that some elected leaders had remained silent 'in the face of what could potentially devastate the learning and lives of children and families… Seemingly shackled by fear and partisanship,' he said in a text message. 'I am concerned that this is not the end,' he added.
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Trump administration to release billions in frozen education funds
The Trump administration will release more than $5 billion in frozen funds for schools, the Department of Education announced Friday. The big picture: The administration has been facing bipartisan pressure to release the funds, with GOP senators issuing a public plea. Driving the news: The White House Office of Management and Budget completed a review of Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds and directed the Education Department to release them, department spokesperson Madi Biedermann said in an emailed statement. The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week, she added. What they're saying: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( who was among the Republican lawmakers who signed onto a letter urging the administration to release the funding, said Friday that the funding supports critical programs people rely on. "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, Capito said.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump administration to release over $5 billion school funding that it withheld
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's administration will release more than $5 billion in previously approved funding for K-12 school programs that it froze over three weeks ago under a review, which had led to bipartisan condemnation. KEY QUOTES "(The White House Office of Management and Budget) has completed its review ... and has directed the Department to release all formula funds," Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the U.S. Education Department, said in an emailed statement. "The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week," Biedermann added. Further details on the review and what it found were not shared in the statement. A senior administration official said "guardrails" would be in place for the amount being released, without giving details about them. The release of the more than $5 billion amount was reported earlier by the Washington Post. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Early in July, the Trump administration said it would not release funding previously appropriated by Congress for schools and that an initial review found signs the money was misused to subsidize what it alleged was "a radical leftwing agenda." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict enters second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly States say $6.8 billion in total was affected by the freeze. Last week, $1.3 billion was released. CONTEXT After the freeze, a coalition of mostly Democratic-led states sued to challenge the move, and 10 Republican U.S. senators wrote to the Republican Trump administration to reverse its decision. Republican U.S. lawmakers welcomed the move on Friday, while Democratic lawmakers said there was no need to disrupt funding in the first place. The frozen money covered funding for education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment and after-school and summer programs. The Trump administration has threatened schools and colleges with withholding federal funds over issues like climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion practices. REUTERS
Politico
5 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Trump administration moves to release billions in federal education cash
The release comes after bipartisan pressure on the White House Office of Management and Budget from Capitol Hill, after the withholding of cash left state education leaders and local school districts scrambling. 'The education formula funding included in the FY2025 Continuing Resolution Act supports critical programs that so many rely on,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the subcommittee overseeing education spending, said in a statement Friday. 'The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support.' The West Virginia Republican led a group of prominent Republican senators, pressing White House budget chief Russ Vought to release the school aid, in a notable intraparty challenge to the administration. The freeing up of funding was lauded by several other Republican lawmakers on Friday. Sen. Jim Justice ( said the release will 'undoubtedly have a positive impact' on his state and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who also pressed for the cash, praised the decision. The White House had faced mounting pressure from federal, state and local leaders to distribute the education cash amid growing concerns from districts about plugging budget holes in the absence of the federal dollars Congress approved for fiscal 2025. 'There is no good reason for the chaos and stress this president has inflicted on students, teachers, and parents across America for the last month, and it shouldn't take widespread blowback for this administration to do its job and simply get the funding out the door that Congress has delivered to help students,' said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a statement Friday. 'This administration deserves no credit for just barely averting a crisis they themselves set in motion,' the Washington Democrat added. Juan Perez Jr. contributed to this report.
