Kelly, Stanton Demand Trump Administration Release Frozen Funds for Arizona Schools

Last week, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, demanding the Trump administration immediately release more than $118 million in frozen grant funding for Arizona schools. 

The Trump administration is withholding nearly $7 billion in Congressionally-approved education funds due to states by July 1.   

“The timing of this withholding is particularly serious for Arizona schools that begin the new school earlier than many schools across the country. One school district in Arizona begins the term on July 16, 2025. This freeze is putting Arizona school districts in an impossible financial situation, as school districts have already adopted their annual budgets and signed contracts for the upcoming school year,” the lawmakers wrote.  

In the letter,the Arizona leaders highlight the impacts of withholding this funding, which include: 

• Mesa Public Schools losing $4.2 million in funding they have planned for and allocated to signed contracts. More than 70% of this funding goes directly to compensate staff who support student learning every day. 
• The Boys and Girls Club of Arizona losing $1.3 million of their operating budget. Potentially forcing BGCAZ to reduce programs, to close summer camps early, and even to shut down facilities. 
• Arizona’s federal education funding being reduced by 11.9%. The loss of these funds leaves school districts across the state in an unsustainable period of limbo.
   

The full letter is here.