A group of 10 Republican senators is demanding that President Trump release $7 billion in federal education dollars as the administration reviews how the money is being spent.
The funding that Trump froze pays for programs like after-school, which many poor, dual-income families depend on for childcare. The senators said the funding freeze will “harm students, families and local economies.”
The Trump administration has said schools are misusing tax dollars to push left-wing agendas and provide services for illegal immigrants.
Trump reviews education spending
The funding includes $890 million to teach students English and $376 million to educate the children of immigrant farmhands, many of whom are in the U.S. illegally.
In their letter to White House budget director Russ Vought, the Republican senators said they share Trump’s concern about taxpayers funding left-wing agendas. But the senators said they “do not believe” that is what is happening with the education money. They did not elaborate on this belief of theirs or address Trump’s concerns in any detail.
The senators highlighted popular programs like after-care, summer school and adult education. They framed their demands as empowering states to control education, an issue Trump has championed in his push to dismantle the Department of Education.
“This funding goes directly to state and local districts, where local leaders decide how the funding is spent,” the senators wrote.
The senators are Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Me.), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Mike Rounds (Sd.), Shelley Moore Capito (Wv.), John Boozman (Ar.), Katie Britt (Al.), Deb Fischer (Ne.), John Hoeven (Nd.) and Jim Justice (Wv.).
Left-wing agenda
The administration is also reviewing $1.3 billion for after-school and summer programs, over $2 billion for teacher training, $715 million for adult literacy and $1.3 billion for academic enrichment that schools have flexibility to spend.
The OMB said some schools have used the funding to push programs like “queer resistance in the arts.” And some schools have used funding for migrant education to “promote illegal immigrant advocacy organizations,” the administration says.
Nearly half the states in the country, all run by Democrats, have already sued to force Trump to release the $6.8 billion. Vought has said the funding could be on the chopping block in a future rescissions package.
GOP pushback
The Senate passed a rescissions package Wednesday that cuts $9 billion for foreign aid and public broadcasters, like NPR, that have a left-leaning bias.
Murkowski and Collins voted no, saying the cuts would hurt rural Americans who rely on public broadcasting in emergencies.
Following pushback from some Republicans, the White House agreed to take out $400 million in cuts to PEPFAR, a global program that fights HIV/AIDS.
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Author: Matthew Boose
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