Trump Admin Unveils $6 Billion Education Funding Release

Major Education Funding Released After Months of Uncertainty

After months of uncertainty, a significant portion of the approximately $6 billion in education programming that had been frozen by the Trump administration is now being released. According to a spokesperson from the Department of Education, this includes funding for various programs such as English language acquisition, teacher development, and adult education.

ABC News obtained a copy of one of the letters sent by the U.S. Department of Education to states, informing them that the funds will be available starting the week of July 28, 2025. Nebraska, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Utah have confirmed to ABC News that they have received notifications about the release of these funds. The letter also emphasizes that states must comply with federal laws, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, and presidential executive orders when using the money.

In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon indicated that the roughly $6 billion in education programming, which had been paused and under review by the OMB, could potentially be fully released by the end of the year. "We want to make sure that we have the right focus on what we're trying to do with our students," she said.

The congressionally authorized education funding had been under review to determine if certain programs "grossly misused" government funds to promote a "radical leftwing agenda." This led to widespread concern among educators and advocacy groups, who feared the impact on students and schools across the country.

Several advocacy groups have welcomed the decision to release the funds and criticized the delay. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represents plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the freeze, called the release a "major victory for public education and the communities it serves." She emphasized that her organization will continue to monitor the situation and work in court to ensure the administration fully complies with the law and that resources reach the schools and students who need them most.

Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, celebrated the "hard-earned win" and thanked advocates for their efforts in pushing for the release of the funds. However, she also urged advocates to hold members of Congress accountable for allowing the situation to unfold.

Montserrat Garibay, advocacy chair for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), expressed support for the release of the funds but noted that funding for the next fiscal year, FY2026, remains uncertain. NABE relies on Title III funding, which supports English learners, and Garibay highlighted the importance of this funding for educators and students alike.

"The skinny budget for FY26 eliminates Title III funding," Garibay said. "This means that our most precious assets and the future of our country will receive the services they need to thrive in our country and learn English. It means that educators will receive professional development to serve our students."

Earlier this week, several Republican senators sent a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to withhold the more than $6 billion in federal funds for education programs already appropriated by Congress. A coalition of school districts and advocacy groups also sued the administration over the funding freeze.

Friday’s announcement comes just a week after the OMB unfroze more than $1 billion in after-school and summer learning funds that had been under review. A senior administration official mentioned that states would have to follow new guidelines moving forward. Many programs reported receiving the after-school and summer learning funding earlier in the week.

It remains unclear how soon states will receive the additional education funding that was released today. However, with the school year beginning in the coming days for many districts nationwide, the timing of the release is critical for ensuring that students and educators are adequately supported.