Trump Administration Freezes $6 Billion in Education Grants, Threatening Programs for Low-Income Students

The Trump administration has implemented a funding freeze, withholding over $6 billion in federal grants designated for various educational programs. This move is part of a review process to ensure that the grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities. The affected programs include after-school and summer learning initiatives, English language instruction, adult literacy programs, and more. This decision has left states and schools in a state of uncertainty as they plan their budgets for the upcoming summer and school year, raising concerns about the timely distribution of these funds.

The freeze has significant implications for low-income families who rely on these programs for affordable child care while their parents work. Schools warn that without the federal funds, they may not be able to provide essential after-school care or hire staff for English language instruction. Organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which depend on some of the withheld money for their summer programming, face the possibility of ending their camps mid-season if funding is not restored soon. The potential fallout could be severe, with as many as 926 Boys and Girls Clubs potentially closing, affecting over 220,000 children.

In Gadsden City Schools in Alabama, the after-school program serving over 1,200 low-income students is at risk of shutting down if the federal funds are not released. The program provides crucial child care and keeps children engaged and safe during the critical hours after school. The loss of this program could result in job losses for the roughly 75 employees and leave families without a vital resource. Janie Browning, who directs the program, emphasized the importance of these after-school hours in preventing negative outcomes for students.

Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, expressed concern that withholding the money could have lasting economic impacts. Some advocates fear that the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and lay off teachers. Trump’s 2026 budget proposal called for zeroing out all of the programs under review, indicating the administration’s view that these programs are unnecessary. Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., urged the administration to spend the money as intended by Congress, highlighting the daily uncertainty faced by school districts.

The six grant programs under review include the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which is the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs. This program supports over 10,000 local programs nationwide. Other programs under review include grants for teachers’ professional development, academic enrichment, English language learners, children of migrant workers, and adult literacy. These programs account for a significant portion of federal K-12 education funding in various states, with California and Texas having substantial amounts in limbo.

State superintendents and education officials have criticized the administration’s actions, describing them as illegal impoundment of funds appropriated by Congress. They warn that the loss of these funds could put several school districts in extreme financial distress, as districts have already adopted budgets and planned programming based on the assumption that they would receive the money. The freeze is particularly impactful for children learning English and their parents, as well as rural districts that rely heavily on federal funding for their programs.

In Umatilla School District in rural eastern Oregon, the funding freeze has caused significant concern. The district relies heavily on federal funding for its after-school and summer school programs, which are essential for its sizable population of migrant families and students learning English. Superintendent Heidi Sipe is meeting with state officials to determine if the district will have to plan an early end to summer school. If the federal money remains frozen, she will have to lay off staff and eliminate after-school programs attended by around half the district’s students. Sipe expressed frustration with the situation, noting that the district was in the middle of a five-year grant period and that better planning could have been done for America’s children.