The partial release of education funds withheld by the Trump administration has drawn both praise and criticism from Alabama’s congressional representatives.
The Trump administration announced on June 30 that it would be withholding $6.8 billion in federal education funding—funding that was approved by Congress in March. Such funding is usually released annually on July 1.
The money withheld included funds for English learner services, academic enrichment, professional development, migrant education and after-school programs at schools nationwide.
Following the administration’s announcement, the National Education Association, which represents education professionals and is the largest labor union in the U.S., estimated Alabama could lose $100 million if the funds are not reinstated.
Last Friday, the Trump administration announced it would be releasing $1.4 billion of the funds for after-school and summer education programming. The administration is still withholding more than $5 billion in education funding.
The partial release of withheld funds drew support from Trump ally, U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama.
“I’m pleased to see these funds released to support after-school and summer programs,” Britt wrote in a post on X.
Britt thanked the president and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought for dispersing the money, pointing to a request to release the funds made by Britt and nine other Republican senators.
“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states. This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families,” the senators wrote in their letter to the president.
“We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds,” they continued.
Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, who also penned a letter to the president and Vought asking that the funds be released, has remained critical of the Trump administration’s decisions to withhold a portion of the funding appropriated by Congress.
“While my office has not received confirmation from the Trump Administration, we have heard from local educators that a portion of the congressionally appropriated education funding has been released after significant delay,” Sewell told APR in a written statement.
Sewell went on to demand all the remaining withheld congressional education funding being withheld by the administration gets released.
“The Trump Administration’s illegal withholding of education funding continues to cause chaos and panic for Alabama’s K-12 schools and the children they serve,” she continued. “I will continue to hold the Trump Administration accountable for their actions and policies that are harming Alabama’s children.”
Trump’s decision to withhold the funding drew criticism from Sewell alongside 150 other House Democrats, who demanded the Trump administration release the “illegally withheld, Congressionally appropriated federal funding.”
The senators’ letter criticized the administration for disrupting the flow of education funding expected by states and for only notifying states a day before the money was scheduled to be released.
“This unnecessary delay of education funding, which accounts for at least 10 percent of federal K-12 funding in every state, is alarming parents, local elected officials, and education agencies,” the letter reads. “It is disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing the education of millions of students, and is already resulting in layoffs as well as program delays and cancellations.”
“There is no legitimate reason why any review of these programs should prevent the Administration from fulfilling its responsibility to the American people on time,” the senators continued. “No more excuses—follow the law and release the funding meant for our schools, teachers, and families.”
Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey was also among state politicians who urged the president to release the funds.
“We are hopeful that the review period will be expedited, and funds will be released quickly,” Mackey wrote in a statement to the Alabama Reflector. “However, we look forward to working expeditiously with our colleagues in Washington as we are only weeks away from the beginning of a new school year and wish to avoid any disruption in services for our students and their families.”
Legal action attempting to secure the funding’s release has also been pursued against the Trump administration. These actions include a suit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside 23 additional states and D.C., as well as a suit filed by a coalition of local school districts and state chapters of the American Federation of Teachers.
