In response to the Trump Administration releasing nearly $7 billion in education funding after pushback from Democrats, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

“The same week Donald Trump gave his billionaire donors another round of massive tax handouts, he refused to release nearly $7 billion in education funding, gutting critical programs for millions of students and teachers. Democrats fought back and stood up for our kids and teachers, forcing Trump to back down. Restoring this funding is an important step to holding Trump accountable – but there is more work to be done. His disastrous plan to close the Department of Education is already wreaking havoc on schools and communities across the country. Democrats will continue to fight back and demand that Trump stop screwing with our kids’ education.”  

NEW: Donald Trump is releasing nearly $7 billion in education funding after Americans organized and fought back, including rallying Democratic and Republican states alike to take Trump to court. 

New York Times: “The White House will release $5.5 billion in school funding.” 

“The money included more than $2 billion to help train and recruit teachers, particularly in low-income areas that often have trouble competing for the most qualified teachers. 

“But the administration quickly faced mounting pushback, including two lawsuits in federal court. Last week, the White House announced that it would release $1.3 billion that had been withheld for after-school programs.” 

NPR: “A coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday over the administration’s decision to freeze more than $6 billion in federal education grants for K-12 schools and adult education. The move comes two weeks after the Trump administration first notified states that it was withholding the previously approved funds. …

“In addition, more than a hundred House Democrats wrote to the administration, asking that the funds be released immediately.”  

Trump refused to release nearly $7 billion in education funding — the same week the GOP passed his billionaire-first budget to give his ultra-wealthy donors another round of tax handouts. 

Education Week: “Trump Tells States He’s Holding Back $6.8 Billion for Schools” 

“The Trump administration is holding back nearly $6.8 billion in federal funding for K-12 schools it was scheduled to dole out July 1, Education Department staff told state education agencies on Monday afternoon—the day before the funding, by law, was required to start flowing. 

“Thousands of school districts and dozens of states that had banked on those funds to cover staff salaries, vendor contracts, curriculum materials, technology tools, and other priorities will now have to consider slashing student services …

REMINDER: Trump has moved to close the Department of Education, threatening billions of dollars that support K-12 schools, working families, and low-income schools while gutting student loan debt relief. 

LA Times: “The prospect of dismantling the Department of Education has led to questions and fears over potential chaos over how key responsibilities and billions in federal funding — including handling federal financial aid, grants for disadvantaged students and civil rights enforcement — would be affected.

“The department has authority over financial lifelines that so many campuses and students rely on. The department’s K-12 programs serve more than 50 million students attending 130,000 public and private schools; federal grant, loan, and work-study assistance benefits more than 13 million post-secondary students.”

TIME: “Eliminating Title I would harm nearly three million children throughout the U.S. … [and] could result in the loss of 180,000 jobs for educators … 

“Title I also provides federal funding for high-poverty schools.”

Trump’s cuts disproportionately hit his voters the hardest. 

CNN: “Potential federal education cuts could hit GOP’s base hardest” 

“It’s the sort of place where President-elect Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ message resonated – but also where some of his proposed policies could hit hardest, especially his promise to eliminate the Department of Education and slash federal funds to public schools. …

“Even a slight reduction in those dollars could have devastating effects for students and their families.”