After Kelly, Stanton, Gallego, & Ansari Demands, Trump Administration Finally Releases $110 Million in Education Funds It’s Held for Weeks
Today, following demands from Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), the Trump administration relented and said it would release more than $110 million in withheld federal education dollars for the State of Arizona.
The move comes one day after Kelly, Stanton, Gallego, and Ansari sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought calling for the Congressionally-appropriated funding to be released immediately.
“After our persistent efforts, the Trump administration has finally released the critical education funds Arizona students and schools were owed. This is a win for our educators, our families, and especially our kids, who shouldn’t have to wait for the resources they need to learn and succeed,” said Kelly. “This delay should never have happened in the first place, and I will continue to work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“After our pressure campaign, Trump blinked and finally released more than $100 million in funding his administration was withholding from Arizona classrooms. Not a moment too soon, as kids across the state head back to school,” said Stanton. “This is a big win, but it never should have been an issue in the first place. Trump continues to play games with our kids’ futures, and we’re not going to let it stand.”
“I’m glad the Trump Administration backed down and unfroze the Congressionally-appropriated grants it was withholding from Arizona schools, but that money should never have been frozen in the first place. The funding freeze forced schools to delay hiring and scramble to adjust just weeks before the school year starts. It created chaos for educators and uncertainty for families. I’m glad it’s over and proud to have fought to make it happen,” said Gallego.
“Our Arizona schools depend on federal funding for critical programs like after-school activities, student support, and teacher training. It was cruel and unconstitutional for the Trump Administration to withhold these funds in the first place, and I’m relieved that they are now releasing them. I’ll keep fighting alongside our Arizona Democratic Delegation to ensure our schools receive the resources they need,” said Ansari.
Background:
The Office of Management and Budget this week released 21st Century Community Learning Center funds that had been on hold. These funds provide academic enrichment opportunities such as literacy and other educational services during non-school hours for students and families and are a major source of funding for organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs. Today’s announcement frees up the remaining $5.5 billion in Congressionally-appropriated funds. This comes after Kelly and Stanton sent a letter to McMahon and Vought demanding they immediately release frozen grant funding to Arizona schools. Then Kelly, Gallego, and 11 other Senate Democrats sent a second letter to McMahon urging all states’ funding to be released.
