New Jersey Sues Trump Administration Over Frozen Education Funding

Strategic Insights -

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined a coalition of 24 states in suing the Trump Administration over its decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding for educational programs, including $158 million for New Jersey. The funding freeze is causing harm to ongoing summer learning programs and has already led to the shuttering of educational programs that rely on the frozen funds. The lawsuit argues that the funding freeze violates federal funding statutes, the Antideficiency Act, and the Impoundment Control Act, as well as the constitutional separation of powers doctrine.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Administration's decision to freeze $158 million in federal funding for New Jersey is causing significant harm to educational programs, including summer learning programs and teacher training initiatives.
  • The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, argues that the funding freeze violates federal funding statutes, the Antideficiency Act, and the Impoundment Control Act, as well as the constitutional separation of powers doctrine.
  • New Jersey and other states have used funding under these programs for decades to support educational programs for students with special needs, English language learners, summer school and afterschool programs, teacher training programs, and community learning centers.
  • The funding freeze has immediately thrown into chaos plans for the upcoming academic year, leaving local education agencies without sufficient funding for commitments made under these grants.
  • Essential summer school and afterschool programs, which provide childcare to working parents of school-age children, are already being impacted, as well as key teacher training programs and programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs.
  • The lawsuit asks the Court to declare the funding freeze unlawful and block any attempts to withhold or delay this essential funding.

Statistics:

  • $158 million: The amount of frozen federal funding for New Jersey.
  • 25%: The percentage of funds that the Department of Education makes available to states on or about July 1 each year.
  • 2025-2026: The school year that is currently being impacted by the funding freeze.
  • 6: The number of formula funding programs that are being affected by the funding freeze.

Sources:

  • The State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General, News Release, July [no date specified]
  • Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, quoted in The State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General, News Release