New York Attorney General Letitia James demands Donald Trump pay billions in school funding.

New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, has initiated a legal action against the Trump administration, accusing it of withholding billions of dollars in federal education funding. This move aligns her office with over 20 other state attorneys general who share similar concerns regarding the financial impact on educational programs.

The U.S. Department of Education recently failed to meet a crucial deadline for the disbursement of six grant programs aimed at supporting teacher training, English language instruction, and after-school programs. This delay is attributed to an ongoing federal review that seeks to assess whether the allocation of these funds is consistent with the educational priorities set forth by the Trump administration.

In New York alone, approximately 3 million was earmarked for essential educational services for the upcoming school year. Attorney General James expressed deep concern over the ramifications of this funding freeze, asserting that it could severely affect students and families, particularly those who depend heavily on educational programs for child care and English language acquisition.

The Trump administration has claimed that some states have misused these federal funds, alleging that they subsidize what it describes as a “radical left-wing agenda.” Specifically, it accused New York of providing financial support to groups advocating for illegal immigration. In response, the attorney general’s office categorically refuted these claims, branding them as unfounded.

In the lawsuit, the attorneys general are requesting a federal judge to assert that the Trump administration has overstepped its authority by suspending funds approved by Congress, as well as to direct the U.S. Department of Education to release the frozen amounts. Attorney General James emphasized the legislative requirement for these funds to be distributed, vowing to prevent the administration from manipulating regulations to retaliate against certain communities.

If the funding is not released by September, the consequences could be significant and far-reaching. Estimates from the New York State Education Department suggest that as many as 65,000 students may be at risk of losing access to vital after-school and summer programs, while approximately 80,000 adults could face cuts to education and literacy services. Additionally, the funding freeze poses a threat to the employment of 67 full-time employees within the Education Department, as their salaries and benefits are dependent on the unallocated funds. Should the funding suspension continue, layoffs may become unavoidable.

As of the latest updates, the review process by the federal administration remains active, with no definitive decisions reached regarding the future of the grant programs. Requests for comment from both the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget have yet to elicit a response.

This situation underscores the critical intersection of education funding and political policy, spotlighting the challenges faced by states in navigating federal directives and their implications for local educational systems.