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The Trump administration has lifted its controversial freeze on more than $6 billion in federal education funding, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Friday, ending a standoff that left educators nationwide scrambling to adjust their summer and fall programs.
The funding — which supports a wide range of initiatives including English language instruction, adult literacy, after-school enrichment, and teacher development — was suspended on July 1 while the White House conducted a review to assess whether the spending aligned with its political priorities.
That freeze, despite the fact the grants had already been appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump, drew lawsuits and condemnation from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, school officials, and education advocates.
On Friday, the Education Department said the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review and would begin releasing the money to states next week.
“This is a win for every student, teacher, and family who depends on these programs,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who was among 10 Republican senators who urged the administration to release the funds. “These are programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support and provide essential services to our communities.”
The freeze had endangered academic and summer programs across the country, including those run by nonprofits like the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Last week, the administration released $1.3 billion for after-school and summer activities, but the remainder of the funding remained in limbo — until now.
Programs impacted by the freeze included:
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$2 billion for teacher professional development and class size reduction
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$1 billion for academic enrichment and STEM education
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$890 million for students learning English
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$376 million for educating migrant children
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$715 million for adult literacy
School districts large and small warned of dire consequences. In Maryland’s Harford County, over half of the budget for an annual English-language summer camp came from the now-released funds. “This money helps us hire certified teachers to keep kids learning through the summer,” said one district administrator.
On Thursday, more than 350 children gathered at Bel Air High School in Harford for a day of summer learning. Middle schoolers watched robotics demos, while younger kids played educational games. High school volunteers, many former English learners themselves, helped guide the youngest students through art projects and reading exercises.
The funding freeze had put such programs — and the students who rely on them — in jeopardy.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) blasted the delay. “Instead of working on boosting reading and math scores, schools spent weeks figuring out what tutoring to cut and how many teachers to lay off,” she said. “It was an unnecessary crisis manufactured by the Trump administration.”
The Office of Management and Budget had previously argued that some of the programs supported a “radical leftwing agenda,” but GOP lawmakers rejected that characterization. “We share your concern,” the senators wrote in their July 16 letter. “However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.”
In districts like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Miami, the grants represent tens of millions of dollars annually — $62 million for LA Unified, $28 million for Philadelphia, and over $24 million for Miami in the 2022-23 school year. Smaller districts like Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Norristown, Pennsylvania, also stood to lose more than $300 per student.
AASA, the national association of school superintendents, praised lawmakers for their pressure campaign and warned that federal education funding should never again be used as a political tool.
“This episode created unnecessary chaos,” said AASA’s executive director. “Our focus should always be on helping children learn — not scoring points in Washington.”
