State Superintendent Thurmond, Education Leaders Call on Trump Administration to Release Billions in Illegally Impounded School Funds

SACRAMENTO—Today, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and other education leaders called out egregious federal overreach and demanded the release of vital school funds that students and educators urgently need to start the 2025-26 school year.

The day before funding was set to be awarded, the California Department of Education (CDE) received notice that the Trump Administration will not be releasing billions of education dollars allocated by Congress for the upcoming school year, including but not limited to Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, and IV-B. These funds are awarded annually on July 1 as part of critical funding that sustains America’s public schools. Based on prior year awards, CDE estimates that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is keeping $1 billion from California students and billions of dollars nationwide.

“The President is completely disregarding the democratic process by impounding dollars already budgeted, rather than trying to make his case for cuts to elected representatives sent to Congress by the American people to make these decisions. In the notification we received, the Trump Administration provides no legal justification for withholding these dollars from our students. The Administration is punishing children for the sole reason that states refuse to cater to Trump’s political ideology,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “The Administration is withholding funds that employ vital school staff who provide critical resources and supports for learning for all students. Every child will feel the impact of this disruption delivered shortly before the start of the school year, when our students, educators, and families should be anticipating the year ahead and making plans to support our children’s learning and growth.”

The CDE does not have exact amounts of federal education dollars that should be awarded for the 2025-2026 school year because estimates that ED typically sends in March or April have not been sent.

“California and other states have already filed suit against the Trump Administration based on prior acts to unlawfully withhold funding because we refuse to conform with the President’s political ideology,” Superintendent Thurmond added. “Courts have already taken action in our favor in these cases. California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress.”

At today’s press conference, Superintendent Thurmond was joined by Edgar Zazueta, Executive Director, Association of California School Administrators; David Goldberg, President, California Teachers Association; Patrick O’Donnell, Chief of Governmental Relations, California School Boards Association; Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers; Tatia Davenport, CEO, California Association of School Business Officials; Max Arias, SEIU Local 99 Executive Director and Child Care Providers United Chairperson; and Rich DuVarney, Past President, California County Superintendents.

A recording of the press conference can be viewed on the CDE Facebook page .

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100