Trump administration reportedly will release some education funds

After pressure from several Republicans, including two members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation, it appears the Trump administration plans to release at least some of the nearly $7 billion in federal education grants it has been holding up for review.

The Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization, said in a news release Friday that the administration is expected to release funding for after-school and summer programming.

“In communities all across this country, people are tremendously relieved that the Trump Administration will release the FY25 afterschool and summer learning program funds it had withheld,” Jodi Grant executive director of the group, said in a statement. “Working parents in particular are breathing an enormous sigh of relief. These funds, which Congress appropriated, were due to 50 states and D.C. on July 1.”

It’s not clear where that information came from, but it was backed up by a social media post from West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who said Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, had informed her Friday that the Education Department would be releasing the money.

Moore Capito was one of 10 Republican senators, including Nebraska’s Deb Fischer, who sent a letter to Vought seeking the release of the money.

The senators wrote in the letter that they shared the Trump administration’s concern about “taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs”

“However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds,” the letter said. “These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support.”

“We encourage you to reverse your decision and release this Congressionally approved funding to the states.”

Nebraska schools were without nearly $40 million thanks to the delay. It’s not clear how much of that amount is for the after-school and summer programs.

Second District Representative Don Bacon also sent a letter to Vought earlier this week seeking to have the funds released.

“Schools across Nebraska made hiring decisions this spring based on projected allocations and are finalizing budgets for the 2025-2026 academic year, which begins in a matter of weeks,” Bacon wrote in his letter, which was dated Tuesday. “Delays in these awards place them in the impossible position of revisiting hiring and programming decisions with little time to adjust—decisions that are foundational to academic success and student support.”

He noted that Millard Public Schools in his district faces the loss of $900,000, “costs that would fall to local taxpayers due to the timing and contractual obligations already in place.” Bacon also cited the potential $1 million loss to Lincoln Public Schools that helps to fund summer and after-school programs.

In a letter to Fischer, interim LPS Superintendent John Skretta wrote that the district faces an overall loss of $8.8 million for the 2025-26 school year if the funds are not released.

"These funds are not extras — they are essential to the success of our students and the functioning of our schools" Skretta wrote.

Bacon’s letter also highlighted other potential losses, including $400,000 used by non-public schools in the Omaha area for professional development and more than $2.7 million used for adult education statewide.

In Beatrice, local officials were looking at trying to raise private funds to help save the school district’s after-school program, which was in danger of closing after its $175,000 in federal funding was withheld.