Trump Cuts $100M In MA ED Funding, Governor Healey Says

MASSACHUSETTS - The Trump Administration has moved to terminate nearly $106 million in K-12 education grant funding for Massachusetts, according to a news release from Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.

"This action is jeopardizing mental health care and math tutoring for our students," Healey said. "Massachusetts has been making important progress helping students recover from the pandemic, but President Trump is trying to take us backwards."

The U.S. Department of Education informed all states on Friday evening that it would end the federal Education Stabilization Fund liquidation three minutes after the fact. The decision will cut over $2 billion across 41 states, and the Commonwealth has until March 2026 to spend the funds.

The money would be used to support statewide efforts to mend pandemic-related learning loss. Specifically, math, science, and literacy were the targeted improvements. Massachusetts students continue to lead the nation in test scores, but recent numbers indicate they still have not fully recovered from learning lost during the pandemic.

Beyond just addressing mental health service gaps, high-dosage math tutoring and dyslexia screenings, the funding was also supporting building upgrades across 20 school districts in HVAC upgrades. Security measures and professional development for educators were also two areas the money went toward.

The following public and nonpublic school districts are expected to be impacted:

• Springfield: $47,357,654
• New Bedford: $15,603,433
• Fitchburg: $6,578,468
• Everett: $4,897,300
• Revere: $4,613,327
• Boston: $3,468,659
• Leominster: $1,868,215
• Stoughton: $1,512,470
• Worcester: $1,454,350
• Chelsea: $1,488,715
• Lawrence: $1,307,307
• Dracut: $648,702
• Holyoke: $395,863
• West Springfield: $354,868
• Lynn: $339,357
• Fairhaven: $250,802
• Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical: $115,465
• Ludlow: $83,334
• Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical: $21,461
• Mashpee: $2,481
• (Nonpublic) Mater Dolorosa Catholic School in Holyoke: $118,894
• (Nonpublic) Saint Stanislaus School in Chicopee: $172,692

"The federal government and states should be working together to invest in capital projects that improve the learning environments for our students and support their education and wellbeing," said Driscoll. "Massachusetts does not have the resources to replace all of the funding that President Trump is terminating."

Many of the projects centered around building improvement are already underway. Some have been delayed due to continued supply chain issues and labor shortages.

"Trump's decision to cut off money already promised to school districts will have drastic negative effects on Massachusetts communities," Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) said. "This administration clearly does not care about damaging our educational system or hurting our children."

See Also:

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