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CBS News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Trump administration freezes billions in funding for after-school and summer programs
Day camp providers and schools say the Trump administration's funding freeze could ruin summer for low-income American families and jeopardize some after-school programs next year. The administration is holding back over $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as it conducts a review to ensure grants are aligned with President Trump's priorities. The move creates uncertainty for states and schools as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year because they don't know if or when they'll receive the funding. Democrats say the administration is flouting the law by holding back congressionally appropriated money. Without the funds, schools say they won't be able to provide free or affordable after-school care for low-income kids while their parents work and may not be able to hire staff to teach children who are learning English. Classes or camps underway this summer could be in jeopardy, too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America depend on some of this funding to run their camps and other summer programming for low-income students. If it's not restored soon, the programming could end mid-season, said Boys and Girls Club President Jim Clark. After-school programming in the fall could also take a hit. "If these funds are blocked, the fallout will be swift and devastating," Clark said. As many as 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could close, affecting more than 220,000 kids, the group said. Programs relying on the money were expecting it to be distributed July 1, but an Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department didn't provide a timeline and warned that "decisions have not yet been made" on grants for the upcoming school year. "The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities," Education Department officials wrote in the notice, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The department referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond to a request for comment. GADSDEN, Ala. Cassiyah Hayes takes a moment to read a book in the media center of George W. Floyd Elementary School in Gadsden, Ala., on June 25, 2025. Andi Rice for The Washington Post via Getty Images In Gadsden City Schools in Alabama, officials say they'll have no choice but to shutter their after-school program, which serves more than 1,200 low-income students, if federal funds aren't released. There's no other way to make up for the frozen federal money, said Janie Browning, who directs the program. Families who rely on after-school programs would lose an important source of child care that keeps children safe and engaged while their parents work. The roughly 75 employees of the district's after-school programs may lose their jobs. "Those hours between after school and 6 o'clock really are the hours in the day when students are at the most risk for things that may not produce great outcomes," Browning said. "It would be devastating if we lost the lifeline of afterschool for our students and our families." Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, said withholding the money could cause lasting damage to the economy. Some advocates fear the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and teachers. Mr. Trump's 2026 budget proposal called on Congress to zero out all of the programs under review, signaling the administration sees them as unnecessary. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington pressed the Trump administration to spend the money as Congress intended. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on afterschool programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said in a statement. The six grant programs under review include one known as 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It's the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs and supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the Afterschool Alliance. Every state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year. Also under review are $2 billion in grants for teachers' professional development and efforts to reduce class size; $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning; $890 million for students who are learning English; $376 million to educate the children of migrant workers; and $715 million to teach adults how to read. These programs account for over 20% of the federal money the District of Columbia receives for K-12 education, according to an analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, a think tank. California alone has over $800,000 in limbo, while Texas has over $660,000. "Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year," said Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent, in a statement. "The Administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump's political ideology. The loss of funds could "put several more school districts in extreme financial distress," said Chris Reykdal, superintendent of public instruction in Washington state. Districts have already adopted budgets, planned programming and hired staff, assuming they'd receive the money, Reykdal said. If the funding freeze remains, children learning English and their parents would be especially affected. Some districts use the money to pay for summer programming designed for English learners, family engagement specialists who can communicate with parents and professional development training for staff. Rural districts would be hit the hardest. "They're trying to send a message," said Amaya Garcia, who oversees education research at New America, a left-leaning think tank. "They don't believe that taxpayer funding should be used for these children." Umatilla School District in rural eastern Oregon — with a sizable population of migrant families and students learning English — relies heavily on federal funding for its after-school and summer school programs. Superintendent Heidi Sipe says she is meeting with state officials soon to find out if the district will have to plan an early end to summer school, an option 20% of students are using. Come this fall, if federal money stays frozen, she'll have to lay off staff and eliminate after-school programs attended by around half the district's students. "It's an essential service in our community because we don't have any licensed child care centers for school-age children," she said. Sipe said it's particularly frustrating to deal with these funds being put into limbo because the school district was in the middle of a five-year grant period. "It feels preventable," she said, "and it feels as though we could have done a better job planning for America's children."
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Withholds Nearly $7 Billion for Schools, With Little Explanation
The Trump administration has declined to release nearly $7 billion in federal funding that helps pay for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, teacher training and other services. The money was expected to be released by Tuesday. But in an email on Monday, the Education Department notified state education agencies that the money would not be available. The administration offered little explanation, saying only that the funds were under review. It gave no timeline for when, or if, the money would be released, saying instead that it was 'committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president's priorities.' The frozen funds are unrelated to the millions of dollars in cuts included in the domestic policy bill that squeaked through the Senate on Tuesday. 'It's catastrophic,' said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, a group that works to expand after-school services for students. She estimated that the federal dollars for after-school and summer-school programs — about $1.3 billion annually — support 1.4 million students, mostly lower income, representing about 20 percent of all students in after-school programs nationally. The move is likely to be challenged in court and has already been criticized as illegal by Democrats and teachers' unions, who emphasized that the money had been appropriated by Congress and was approved by President Trump in March as part of a broader funding bill. 'This is lawless,' said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. The administration has taken an aggressive approach to cutting back the federal government's role in education, including plans to eliminate the Education Department entirely. Though only Congress can abolish the department, the Trump administration has taken an ax to education staffing and funding more broadly as it seeks to whittle down the department. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Billions in grants for summer school, English instruction delayed during Trump administration review
The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for afterschool and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump's priorities. The move leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when — or if — they will receive the money. It also sets the stage for a clash with Democrats, who say the administration is flouting the law by holding back money Congress appropriated. Without the money, schools say they won't be able to provide free or affordable afterschool care for low-income kids while their parents work, and they may not be able to hire staff to teach children who are learning English. Programs that rely on the funding were expecting it to be distributed July 1, but an Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department did not provide a timeline and warned 'decisions have not yet been made' on grants for the upcoming school year. 'The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities,' Education Department officials wrote in the notice, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The department referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some advocates fear the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and teachers. Trump's 2026 budget proposal called for Congress to zero out all of the programs under review, signaling the administration sees them as unnecessary. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pressed the administration to spend the money as Congress intended. 'Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on afterschool programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed,' Murray said in a statement. A national organization for afterschool programs called the department's action a 'stunning betrayal.' 'Withholding these funds will cause lasting harm to students and families, and to our education system, our future workforce, and our economy,' said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. The six grant programs under review includes one known as 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It's the primary federal funding source for afterschool and summer learning programs and supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the alliance. Every state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year. Also under review are $2 billion in grants for teachers' professional development and efforts to reduce class size; $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning; $890 million for students who are learning English; $376 million to educate the children of migrant workers; and $715 million to teach adults how to read. California's education agency said it was notified Monday that it wouldn't be receiving money from those programs. 'Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year," Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent, said in a statement. 'The Administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump's political ideology.' The administration had signaled its desire to cut much of the money in an April letter to Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. In that letter, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said cutting money for teaching kids to speak English would help "end overreach from Washington and restore the rightful role of State oversight in education.' 'They're trying to send a message,' said Amaya Garcia, who oversees education research at New America, a left-leaning think tank. 'They don't believe that taxpayer funding should be used for these children.' ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Billions in grants for summer school, English instruction delayed during Trump administration review
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for afterschool and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump's priorities . The move leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when — or if — they will receive the money. It also sets the stage for a clash with Democrats, who say the administration is flouting the law by holding back money Congress appropriated.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Billions in grants for summer school, English instruction delayed during Trump administration review
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for afterschool and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump's priorities. The move leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when — or if — they will receive the money. It also sets the stage for a clash with Democrats, who say the administration is flouting the law by holding back money Congress appropriated. Without the money, schools say they won't be able to provide free or affordable afterschool care for low-income kids while their parents work, and they may not be able to hire staff to teach children who are learning English. Programs that rely on the funding were expecting it to be distributed July 1, but an Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department did not provide a timeline and warned 'decisions have not yet been made' on grants for the upcoming school year. 'The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities,' Education Department officials wrote in the notice, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The department referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some advocates fear the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and teachers. Trump's 2026 budget proposal called for Congress to zero out all of the programs under review, signaling the administration sees them as unnecessary. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pressed the administration to spend the money as Congress intended. 'Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on afterschool programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed,' Murray said in a statement. A national organization for afterschool programs called the department's action a 'stunning betrayal.' 'Withholding these funds will cause lasting harm to students and families, and to our education system, our future workforce, and our economy,' said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. The six grant programs under review includes one known as 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It's the primary federal funding source for afterschool and summer learning programs and supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the alliance. Every state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year. Also under review are $2 billion in grants for teachers' professional development and efforts to reduce class size; $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning; $890 million for students who are learning English; $376 million to educate the children of migrant workers; and $715 million to teach adults how to read. California's education agency said it was notified Monday that it wouldn't be receiving money from those programs. 'Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year,' Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent, said in a statement. 'The Administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump's political ideology.' The administration had signaled its desire to cut much of the money in an April letter to Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. In that letter, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said cutting money for teaching kids to speak English would help 'end overreach from Washington and restore the rightful role of State oversight in education.' 'They're trying to send a message,' said Amaya Garcia, who oversees education research at New America, a left-leaning think tank. 'They don't believe that taxpayer funding should be used for these children.' ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
