Shapiro joins lawsuit for federal education funds

Pennsylvania’s governor claims the state is owed $230 million.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Monday that Pennsylvania will join 25 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for freezing funding for state schools.

Shapiro claims the administration is withholding $230 million in funds for Pennsylvania schools and $7 billion throughout the country. The lawsuit lists Education Secretary Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump, and Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, as defendants.

“Every Pennsylvania child deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed,” said Shapiro in a statement. “Once again, the Trump Administration is trying to take away dollars that were committed to Pennsylvania – this time from our schools.

“Today, I’m suing to force the Trump Administration to deliver the money our students and schools were promised and are owed – critical funds that school districts rely on to meet their budgets, train high-quality teachers, provide afterschool programs for kids, and so much more.”

In his news release, Shapiro said the Trump administration reversed the course of the funding June 30. In the multi-state lawsuit, they claim that under federal law, the funds were appropriated by Congress.

Sen. Nick Pisciottano agrees with the governor’s move and said that the Trump administration should respond.

“The federal government must hold to its promises and deliver the funding that school districts need to educate our children and prevent local tax increases,” Pisciottano said. “I commend the governor’s swift and decisive action to fight for the kids across Pennsylvania to ensure they have access to the resources they need to safely learn in schools across Allegheny County.”

Some of the funds in the freeze go to programs that help recruit new teachers, provide after-school programming and assist with adult literacy. According to Shapiro’s statement, six funds are under review in the freeze:

• $11 million for the needs of agricultural families who frequently move.

• $70 million for teacher development and recruitment.

• $20 million for English language education.

• $55 million that goes toward Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants.

• $54 million for Century Community Learning Centers, which provide a wide range of educational programs.

• $18.6 million for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Grant.

• $2 million of the Integrated English Literacy and Civic Education Grants.

“Many of the projects funded by these dollars support vital programs for Pennsylvania schools, impacting key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs,” Shapiro states. “By abruptly withholding the $230 million it had promised to Pennsylvania schools, USDE has left Pennsylvania taxpayers on the hook.”

This move by Shapiro adds to a long list of legal battles he has taken on to regain funding blocked by the Trump administration. In February, the governor filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s freeze on federal funding. In April, he joined another multistate effort after the administration canceled more than half a billion dollars in public health grants.

In an April lawsuit, the governor sued the administration for its decision to block federal funds it had promised to 116 Pennsylvania school districts. According to Shapiro’s statement, more than $2 billion in federal funding has been restored due to the state’s legal action.

The latest lawsuit comes after the Supreme Court announced Monday that it will allow the president to lay off around 1,400 employees from the U.S. Department of Education.