$27M In RI Education Funding Paused By Trump Administration: See Impacted Programs

The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in funding already appropriated by Congress that could affect after-school, student support, teacher training, English language, adult literacy and other education programs in Rhode Island.

The pause is part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities, but leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when — or if — they will receive the money.

Without the money, schools say they won’t be able to provide free or affordable after-school care for low-income kids while their families work, and may not be able to hire staff to teach children who are learning English. Even classes or summer camps already underway this summer could be in jeopardy.

After-School Programs At Risk

According to the Learning Policy Institute, Rhode Island stands to lose $27 million, or 17% of K-12 funding, if the programs paused by Trump’s Education Department are eliminated after the review.

The six grant programs under review include one establishing 21st Century Community Learning Centers. According to the Learning Policy Institute, Rhode Island would lose $6.5 million for these programs.

Grant funding is the primary federal funding source for after-school programs and supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the nonprofit, nonpartisan Afterschool Alliance. Each state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America depend on some of the withheld money to run camps and other summer programming for low-income students. If funding isn't restored soon, the programming may end mid-season, Boys and Girls Club President Jim Clark told The Associated Press.

After-school programming in the fall could also take a hit. “If these funds are blocked, the fallout will be swift and devastating,” Clark said. As many as 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could close, affecting more than 220,000 kids, the group said.

What Else Is Cut?

Other programs, and the effect of cuts on Rhode Island if the funding is eliminated, are, according to the Learning Policy Institute, are:

• $2 billion in grants for teachers’ professional development and efforts to reduce class size (Rhode Island would lose $10.8 million);
• $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning (Rhode Island would lose $6.7 million); and
• $890 million for students who are learning English(Rhode Island would lose $3 million)

Programs Targeted In Trump’s Budget

Programs that rely on the money were expecting it to be distributed July 1, but an Education Department notice issued June 30 announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department did not provide a timeline and warned that “decisions have not yet been made” on grants for the upcoming school year.

Some advocates fear the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and teachers. Trump’s 2026 budget proposal called for Congress to zero out all the programs under review, signaling the administration sees them as unnecessary.

See Also: 'Big Beautiful Bill' Passed By House: What It Means For RI

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) pressed the administration to spend the money as Congress intended.

"Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said in a statement.

“Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year,” Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent, said in a statement. “The Administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump's political ideology."

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The Associated Press contributed reporting.