Connecticut is one of 26 states suing the Trump administration over a nearly $7 billion federal education funding freeze; if nothing changes, $53.6 million would be withheld from Connecticut schools, disproportionately affecting high-needs areas. 

The freeze, announced just one day before the funds would have become available for obligation, affects federal grants supporting K-12 students through before- and after-school programs and instruction improvement, and funding for adult literacy programs. Two of the affected K-12 grants support English language learners and migrant students.

Under the freeze, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury are estimated to lose around $3 million each in federal funding, according to the School and State Finance Project. Bridgeport would lose the most funding — around $3.8 million. 

Michael Morton is deputy executive director of communications at the School and State Finance Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization working toward equitable education funding statewide. While the freeze does not target federal funding like the Title I grants for low-income students or IDEA grants for students with disabilities, Morton said high-needs students will still be hit hardest by the freeze.

“We’re talking about multilingual learners. We’re talking about students with special needs. In some instances, we’re talking about community organizations that work with underprivileged or disengaged youth,” Morton said. “It’s taking a situation that is already not good and just exacerbating it.”

Many members of Congress also oppose the freeze. Ten Senate Republicans signed a July 16 letter to Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, urging for the release of funds despite claims from the administration that the money funds a radical left-wing agenda.

“We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs,” the letter read. “However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.”

In a July 10 letter to Vought and Linda McMahon, the secretary of the Department of Education, 150 House Democrats, including four of the five Connecticut representatives, signed the letter requesting release of the “illegally” withheld funds. 

“This unnecessary delay of education funding, which accounts for at least 10 percent of federal K-12 funding in every state, is alarming parents, local elected officials, and education agencies,” reads the letter. “It is disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing the education of millions of students, and is already resulting in layoffs as well as program delays and cancellations.”

Morton said that, even if the funding is restored, “the damage will already be done.” 

“Districts will have to cut or stop programs or let individuals go because this grant funding is not there, and they don’t know when it will be there,” Morton said. “If it ever will be.”

The funding freeze came just before the Supreme Court decision allowing President Donald Trump to continue with his plan to dismantle the Department of Education, beginning with the layoffs of well over 1,000 employees.

According to the lawsuit, the Education Department sent an email to states on June 30 warning of the cuts.

“Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year,” the email reads. “Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review. The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.”