The Trump administration announced on July 25 that it will release approximately $5.5 million back to schools. States are expected to receive the funding by next week, although it comes with conditions. Some school districts, which have already started the new academic year, have had to postpone certain programs due to the delay.

Twelve Republican members of the House of Representatives and Senate sent a letter demanding that the federal government restore funding to schools.

“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families,” the letter stated.

In early July, the administration withheld $810 million from California schools and more than $6 billion overall from programs such as after-school initiatives, migrant education, and others. This freeze in educational grant money triggered backlash in Congress and prompted lawsuits from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 23 other state attorneys general. The lawsuit remains ongoing.

The administration decided to withhold billions in grant money after the Department of Education and the Trump administration claimed that the targeted programs promoted a radical, liberal agenda. Federal funding is typically sent to states first, which then distribute it to individual school districts.