The Department of Education announced on Friday that it is releasing over $5 billion in funding for schools, ending a nearly month-long hold.
Back in early July, the Trump administration put a stop to the usual release of around $7 billion intended for various educational activities, including after-school and summer programs, classes for English learners, and teacher preparation initiatives.
Just last week, over $1 billion was made available for programs, but the administration hasn’t specified when the remaining funds will be distributed.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its reviews of various funding sources and instructed the department to release all formula funds.
Republican leaders quickly praised the funding decisions, which they had actively supported.
West Virginia Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice were among the first to respond to the announcement.
“It supports vital programs that many West Virginians depend on, and I made that clear to OMB Director Vought,” Capito shared on X.
Justice remarked, “The release of these funds will have a significant positive impact on children in West Virginia,” echoing similar sentiments on social media.
Capito had been spearheading efforts along with other Senate Republicans to ensure the release of the funds earlier this month.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also announced the news enthusiastically, stating, “All frozen education funds for next year’s school year have been released, which is great for centers like @kidscanomaha and schools!”
The White House indicated that the funding freeze was partially due to concerns about some of the money being tied to a “radical left agenda.”
He told the Washington Post that there are “guardrails” in place for the funding, similar to those mentioned during the first billion-dollar release. However, what exactly these guardrails entail remains uncertain.
The situation has received bipartisan support, with letters from ten Republican senators and lawsuits from Democratic-led states pushing for the funding.
The earlier suspension had led to delays and even closures of some programs, as well as layoffs in schools in Alaska.
“We are pleased that public schools will finally receive the funds allocated by Congress for 2025-26,” a spokesperson mentioned, adding that updates will follow the investigation set to be released on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to Hill members and allies.
