NJ Governor Blasts Trump Cuts To School Mental Health Grants

TRENTON, NJ — The Trump administration this week said it plans to cancel $1 billion in mental health grants for U.S. schools, a move that quickly drew scrutiny from New Jersey's Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

Grant recipients were notified Tuesday that the funding will not be continued after this year. A gun violence bill signed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022 sent $1 billion to the grant programs to help schools hire more psychologists, counselors and other mental health workers.

However, a new notice said an Education Department review of the programs found they violated the purpose of civil rights law, conflicted with the department’s policy of prioritizing merit and fairness and amounted to an inappropriate use of federal money.

In a statement released Thursday, Murphy called the move "extremely disappointing."

Murphy said the New Jersey Department of Education was in year three of implementing a five-year, $15 million effort to expand access to mental health professionals in schools. Now the project will end two years early due to the funding cuts, Murphy said.

“Now is not the time to waver on mental health initiatives for our children," he said. "Our nation is facing a youth mental health crisis, and we should be working together to build a broader continuum of support for our young people and their families."

He went on to call the U.S. Department of Education's decision "extremely disappointing," adding that his administration "will continue to prioritize youth mental health and the safety of all our students."

The cuts were made public in a social media post from conservative strategist Christopher Rufo, who claimed the money was used to advance “left-wing racialism and discrimination.” He posted excerpts from several grant documents setting goals to hire certain numbers of nonwhite counselors or pursue other diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

“No more slush fund for activists under the guise of mental health,” Rufo wrote.

The Education Department confirmed the cuts. In an update to members of Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press, department officials said the Republican administration will find other ways to support mental health.

“The Department plans to re-envision and re-compete its mental health program funds to more effectively support students’ behavioral health needs,” according to the notice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.