After New Jersey sued the Trump administration over $158 million in frozen education funds, state officials declared victory after the federal government said it would release money.
New Jersey was one of several states to sue the Trump administration over the frozen programs, which included English language programs, teacher development, and community learning centers. The Education Department will release about $6 billion in funds around the country, according to reports.
Officials said the funds also went to after-school, literacy, and summer programs.
“While we are thankful that the Trump Administration has made the appropriate decision to release this education funding, the untenable delay in obligating the funding and the departure from past practice is cause for serious concern,” Gov. Phil Murphy and Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said in a release. “New Jersey school districts depend on predictable funding to ensure students receive the services they need and to plan for the upcoming school year.”
Attorney General Matt Platkin joined the lawsuit against the freezes last month. Platkin’s office has sued the Trump administration numerous times since the president took office in January. In many cases, judges have granted preliminary victories to Platkin.
“From the beginning, we have made clear that the President’s attempt to freeze $158 million in critical education funding for New Jersey was illegal and deeply damaging to students, families, teachers, and schools. Now, under pressure from our lawsuit, the Administration has relented,” Platkin said. “There is simply no excuse for the Trump Administration’s reckless attempt to claw funding away from afterschool care and summer programs, teacher training programs, and programs for English learners and students with special needs—and we are glad that even the Trump Administration has now recognized that it made a grave mistake in freezing this funding.”
