A federal judge has issued a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s decision to cancel over $1 billion in K-12 education funding for more than a dozen states. However, the judge left open the possibility for the U.S. Department of Education to terminate the funding after providing states with advance notice.
The decision came after 16 Democratic state officials, along with the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit against Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s abrupt announcement that the administration was moving up the deadline for spending remaining pandemic relief funds. Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled that the states had shown sufficient reason to halt the cancellation of funding extensions for the 16 states and the District of Columbia. The Education Department is now prohibited from enforcing the cancellation during the course of litigation or until a subsequent court order.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the coalition of states in the lawsuit, hailed the injunction as a “major win” for students and teachers. The abrupt termination of funding extensions was causing budget shortfalls for states, including New York, which lost access to $134 million in funds.
The states argued that the federal agency had bypassed procedural steps required to change the spending deadline. Judge Ramos agreed, stating that the Education Department could correct this error by providing states with sufficient notice of a new deadline.
In her March 28 letter, McMahon had warned states that failing to meet earlier deadlines for spending COVID relief funding could result in the Department denying extension requests. She argued that extending deadlines for taxpayer-funded grants years after the COVID pandemic ended was not consistent with the Department’s priorities. Instead, the Department would consider project-specific extension requests.
More than 40 states had secured approval from the Department for extensions to spend pandemic relief funds, primarily for contracted expenses like construction and tutoring. However, McMahon’s letter abruptly ended these extensions, causing concern among state officials about the impact on programs and students.
The Education Department has since started granting some extensions to spend money, while denying others. Republican-led states, as well as Democratic states, raised concerns about the abrupt rule change and its potential impact on schools and students. For now, only Democratic states involved in the lawsuit are receiving relief from the court ruling.
Judge Ramos directed the Department to provide written notice to all agency staff and submit evidence of that notice to the court within three days. The case is ongoing, and the final outcome remains uncertain. Are you tired of the same old routine and looking for a change in scenery? If so, why not consider taking a trip to the picturesque town of Greendale? Nestled in the heart of the countryside, Greendale offers a charming escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
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