Letter: Rep. Adams Leads Call on House Appropriations Chairs to Demand Release of Education Funding
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, alongside Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Ranking Member of the House Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee and Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06), led a letter signed by 93 House Democrats calling on House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chair Robert Aderholt to join demands that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) release the more than $5.5 billion in Congressionally approved education funds currently withheld by the Trump Administration.
This follows a July 10 letter co-led by Rep. Adams and signed by 150 House Democrats, demanding answers from ED and OMB regarding the illegal withholding of these funds. As of today, the bulk of the funds remain unreleased.
In their letter, the lawmakers called on Chairmen Cole and Aderholt to “pressure the Administration to release the [more than $5.5 billion in] funds Congress appropriated as soon as possible.”
They continued by cautioning continued withholding of the funds will have devastating consequences for local school districts: “Without access to this critical funding, our schools face at least two untenable options, both of which would have severe consequences for students, educators, and the broader community, especially in Republican-controlled school districts.
- Understaff classroom support positions and absorb budget shortfalls for already-hired staff. Such measures will directly impact the quality of education and the ability of students to thrive academically.
- Many school districts will incur millions in monthly debt, diverting resources from vital education priorities. These funds, once redirected, cannot be recovered for student use, further worsening the challenges faced by our schools.”
The lawmakers concluded saying, “We implore you to join us, just as ten of your Republican Senate colleagues have done, in demanding that OMB and the Department of Education immediately release these Congressionally approved education funds. This request comes not only from us as Members of Congress, but on behalf of millions of students, families, and educators.”
This letter comes amid reports that the Trump Administration is preparing a new rescissions package that may target the remaining 5.5 billion in education funding.
Full text of the letter is available here.