After nearly a month of delay, the Trump Administration has finally released over $5 billion in public school funding that had been unjustly withheld. This is a major victory for public education—and proof that when we fight, we win.
The U.S. Department of Education had frozen nearly $7 billion in grant money on June 30, including $137 million meant for Washington State schools. These funds are critical—they support programs for English language learners, training for educators, services for children of migrant workers, and after-school enrichment for students.
School workers across the country faced weeks of anxiety. Without these funds, many risked layoffs, reduced hours, or extra duties with no additional pay. Students were also at risk of losing valuable programs that help them succeed in and out of the classroom.
But school employees, unions, and elected officials fought back. PSE members sent nearly 2,000 emails to our elected officials in Washington, D.C.
Bipartisan lawmakers also demanded the immediate release of the funds. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, along with 22 other state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the freeze. The money had already been approved by Congress and signed into law by the President back in March. It was supposed to be released as usual on July 1—but instead, the Office of Management and Budget claimed it was reviewing whether some of the funds had supported a so-called “radical leftwing agenda.”
Meanwhile, PSE sprang into action. Union leaders quickly informed members about the threat to federal funding and the impact on student services and staff jobs. We stood together—and made our voices heard.
Now, all of the money is flowing again. This win reminds us that we must stay vigilant and united. Our schools and our students deserve full support—without politics getting in the way.
This victory belongs to all of us who stood up and spoke out. When we fight, we win.