ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Monday, June 30, the Trump administration notified states that it would be withholding previously appropriated education funding, amounting to over $6 billion across the country. In Minnesota, these specific funds have been used in the past for adult basic education programming, English-language learner support, after school programs, and educator recruitment and professional development.
By law, these dollars, appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 2025, are authorized to be available for states by July 1, 2025. By withholding these appropriations, the Trump administration is throwing family budgets and school budgets into further uncertainty.
School districts, non-public schools and charter schools in Minnesota rely on knowing what funding will be available for the next school year. States heavily rely on reimbursements from the federal government. The Trump administration has operated on politically-motivated and arbitrary delays, putting more unnecessary stress on districts as they plan for the future.
In response to this development, Chairs of the Senate Education Finance and Education Policy Committees, Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-New Brighton) and Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) released the following statement:
“Over the past six and a half months, Donald Trump, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and Project 2025 architect Russell Vought have been very clear on their devastating intentions for education in this country: making it a privilege for the wealthy, not a right for all, especially those with the most needs.
“They have begun the systematic dismantling of the US Department of Education and our public education system through executive orders, resulting in mass layoffs of over 1,300 dedicated public servants, unconstitutional funding freezes, and strong-arming states into censoring school curricula. It is clear that this administration does not value a system of public education, and our responsibility to provide a free, high-quality education for all, regardless of race, gender, creed, socioeconomic status or zip code – because they know that knowledge is power, and an educated citizenry is paramount to our democracy.
“This latest funding freeze will impact all corners of our state. Minnesotans, along with Americans across the nation, rely on these vital programs. Families rely on after school programming to make sure their kids are safe while parents and guardians are at work. New Americans and their children rely on English-learner support to help ease them into their new home and communities. Adults and seniors rely on adult education classes for professional development, technology training, and more. With these delays and freezes, school districts and families cannot accurately budget for the future.
“If these funds continue to be withheld by the Trump administration, Minnesota schools that were planning on receiving reimbursements will be forced to make decisions about cuts to staffing, programs and services for students. Our students deserve all of the help and support we can give them – yet, the Trump administration has chosen to freeze these funds for cruel political games. Minnesota’s most vulnerable students, their education, their families and their bright futures will pay the price if these services go away.
“While Donald Trump and Republicans attempt to gut our social safety nets, kick people off of their healthcare, terrorize our friends and neighbors in immigrant communities, dismantle our public health systems, end environmental protections, and give more and more money to the ultra-wealthy, we have a better plan. DFL-ers are investing in working class Minnesotans through our state’s paid family and medical leave system, Minnesota’s universal school meals program, our North Star Promise’s tuition-free college, and much more. As DFL-ers, we know that we all do better when we all do better, and that’s why we all must stand up against those who preach hate and seek to divide us.”
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