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A group of 10 Republican senators is publicly urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to freeze more than $6 billion in federal education funding already appropriated by Congress—marking a rare intra-party rebuke of the president’s education agenda.
Led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought calling for the immediate release of the funds, which support programs ranging from after-school care to adult education and English language learning.
“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” the senators wrote in a letter obtained by ABC News. “This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families.”
The funding, paused on June 30, was part of a short-term congressional spending bill passed earlier this year. Although federal education aid is typically released annually on July 1, the Trump administration initiated a sweeping review, citing concerns that some programs “grossly misused” federal dollars to promote what OMB characterized as a “radical left-wing agenda.”
Republican Lawmakers Break Ranks
Capito, who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing education, has long supported Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s efforts to overhaul the department. But this letter marks a notable departure, as Republicans increasingly express concern over the administration’s aggressive dismantling of federal education oversight.
“We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive,” the senators wrote. “We believe you share the same goal.”
Joining Capito in signing the letter were Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).
Rounds, notably, introduced legislation earlier this year titled the Returning Education to Our States Act, which would dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and distribute its functions to other agencies via block grants. While the bill has not moved in the Senate, it reflects broader conservative ambitions to reduce federal involvement in education.
State Leaders and Lawsuits
The funding freeze has triggered backlash from education officials nationwide. In Alabama—where Trump remains deeply popular—State Superintendent Eric Mackey said the administration’s move has left schools in the lurch.
“We’re talking about transparency and consistency and making good on a promise,” Mackey told ABC News. “Just three weeks before school starts, you find the check is not coming.”
More than 20 Democratic governors and attorneys general have filed suit, arguing the administration’s actions violate the Impoundment Control Act, which limits the executive branch’s ability to withhold congressionally approved funds. That law requires OMB to provide notice and justification for any delays, including the specific duration of such deferrals.
An OMB spokesperson told ABC News that no final decision has been made. “We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs,” the spokesperson said in response to the senators’ letter.
Supreme Court Ruling and Long-Term Goals
The administration’s broader campaign to reduce or eliminate federal education oversight was bolstered this week when the Supreme Court lifted an injunction that had temporarily blocked efforts to shrink the department.
While dismantling the Department of Education would require congressional approval—a politically fraught and unlikely outcome—the Trump administration has nonetheless made significant steps toward limiting its reach.
Critics, including school administrators and education advocates, warn that political interference in already-approved funding undermines the stability and planning schools require.
“Whether it’s adult learners, ESL students, or after-school care, this delay impacts real families,” Capito’s letter warned. “We urge you to act quickly.”
