Trump Administration Revokes $85M In Funds To NJ Schools, Murphy Says: See Where

NEW JERSEY — Twenty public school districts in New Jersey are set to lose COVID-era funding for critical infrastructure projects as President Donald Trump's administration has modified a deadline for the money to be spent, state officials said.

Gov. Phil Murphy said the U.S. Department of Education is trying to "claw back" $85 million from districts that had been awarded extensions to spend their federal dollars.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon abruptly informed districts on Friday that she had altered a deadline to request reimbursements for projects that had already been approved. The new deadline was moved up a year to March 28 at 5 p.m., which was the same day she sent the letter.

Funding for the projects came through the American Rescue Plan Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Patch.

The Department of Education said that the original deadline for states to have spent the money was January of this year, but the Biden administration extended the deadlines until March 2026.

"COVID is over," said Madi Biedermann, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications at the U.S. Department of Education. "States and school districts can no longer claim they are spending their emergency pandemic funds on ‘COVID relief’ when there are numerous documented examples of misuse. The Biden Administration established an irresponsible precedent by extending the deadline for spending the COVID money far beyond the intended purpose of the funds, and it is past time for the money to be returned to the people’s bank account."

Collectively, New Jersey districts could lose $85 million that will impact projects that would improve student health and safety, Murphy said on Monday.

"These cuts are reckless and irresponsible, allowing us very little time for contingency plans," Murphy said.

“At a time of unprecedented chaos and uncertainty at the federal level, Washington is failing the next generation.”

According to the governor's office, the districts who could see funding revoked are:

• Bergenfield School District
• Fairview Public Schools
• Westwood Regional School District
• Delran Township School District
• Gloucester City School District
• Bridgeton School District
• East Orange Public Schools
• Newark Public Schools
• North Bergen School District
• Guttenberg School District
• Hamilton Township School District
• Keansburg Public Schools
• Brick Township School District
• Clifton Township Public Schools
• Passaic City Public Schools
• Paterson City Public Schools
• Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District
• Elizabeth Public Schools
• Linden Public Schools
• Robert Treat Academy Charter School

Murphy said his administration "will do everything we can to restore this funding and maintain our reputation for excellence in public education."

McMahon said that school districts can apply for an extension on a project-specific basis, showing why the money is needed to mitigate COVID's effects on student education.

“Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion," McMahon said in the letter.