1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Trump administration’s Education Department is blocking the distribution of nearly $7 billion in congressionally-approved k-12 program funding (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1968). Under a normally functioning government, the Education Department grants state educational agencies access to federal funding by July 1, allowing states to fund critical summer programs and plan for the coming school year. This year, however, the Department has withheld funds without justification, leaving programs facing critical funding shortfalls and creating chaos for schools and families. Meanwhile, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought is threatening to use a maneuver called pocket rescission to claw back these congressionally-approved funds permanently. Services affected by the funding impoundment include: • After-school and summer programming, particularly for children in underserved and low-performing schools • A program to help children of migrant farmworkers succeed academically and graduate from high school • A professional development program for educators • Language acquisition programming for non-English speaking children • A program to improve school conditions and access to classroom technology The withheld grant dollars constitute 10% or more of all states’ and territories’ total federal K-12 funding. America’s children, families, and educators deserve better. I urge and state attorneys general to demand the immediate release of these impounded and essential funds.