A coalition of 24 states, predominantly governed by Democrats, along with the District of Columbia, filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration’s decision to suspend approximately $6.8 billion in federal education funding for public schools across the country.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island, targets the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), alleging that both agencies unlawfully froze federal funding meant for six educational programs approved by Congress. This abrupt freeze has reportedly sent school systems into confusion and jeopardized critical services.
Among the impacted grants are funds designated for educating the children of migrant farm workers, teacher recruitment and professional development, programs supporting English language learning, and after-school and summertime educational enrichment. Additionally, funding earmarked for adult literacy training and job skills programs was also withheld.
The legal complaint asserts that the federal government was obligated to disburse the funds to states by July 1. However, on June 30, just one day before the deadline, the Department of Education informed states it would not proceed with the scheduled grants. Officials cited the transition in presidential administrations as justification for the delay.
An OMB spokesperson defended the freeze at the time, pointing to an “ongoing programmatic review” that had allegedly uncovered instances where grant funding was used to “subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.” The administration raised specific concerns about grants supporting scholarships for immigrant students and curriculum featuring LGBTQ-related content.
In the lawsuit, the states argue that freezing the funds without a valid explanation violated federal administrative laws. They further contend that the executive branch overstepped its constitutional boundaries by undermining Congress’s exclusive control over federal spending. The plaintiffs also point to the Impoundment Control Act, which restricts the president from unilaterally withholding appropriated funds without adhering to defined legal protocols.
State officials claim the freeze has led to the outright cancellation or endangerment of numerous educational initiatives, including summer school offerings and after-school programs, placing a substantial strain on local school budgets with little preparation time.
The legal action represents the latest in a string of lawsuits filed by Democratic-led states against the Trump administration’s broader efforts to curtail or eliminate federal funding for initiatives not aligned with the president’s political priorities.
