The administration of US President Donald Trump will release more than $5 billion in school funding that it had frozen earlier this month, following criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Reuters reported.
The money, intended for K-12 education programmes, had been withheld as part of a review announced by the White House. States say a total of $6.8 billion in funding was affected, with $1.3 billion already released last week.
In a statement sent by email, Madi Biedermann, a senior official at the US Department of Education, said, “The Office of Management and Budget has completed its review … and has directed the Department to release all formula funds.” “The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week,” she added. No details of the review findings were provided.
A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that some “guardrails” would be attached to how the funds are used, but did not give specifics. The Washington Post first reported the release of the $5 billion.
Earlier in July, the Trump administration said it had found indications that the money was being misused to support what it called a “radical leftwing agenda.” The freeze affected funds for teacher training, migrant education, English language learning, and after-school programmes.
The decision led to legal action by a group of mostly Democrat-led states. Ten Republican senators also wrote to the Trump administration urging it to reverse the funding freeze.
Some Republican lawmakers welcomed Friday’s announcement, while Democrats argued the money should never have been withheld.
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President Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding for schools and colleges over a range of issues, including climate policies, diversity initiatives, and pro-Palestinian protests related to Israel’s war in Gaza.
