AFT President condemns illegal freeze of essential K-12 funding

Education Funding Freeze Sparks Outcry from AFT President

WASHINGTON—The recent decision by the Education Department to freeze critical funding for K-12 programs for the 2025-26 school year has drawn sharp criticism from Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Weingarten expressed concern over the move, stating that since the Trump administration took office, public education has faced significant challenges. She highlighted a pattern of undermining both K-12 and higher education, which she argues adversely affects opportunities across America.

According to Weingarten, the administration's previous attempts to condition federal aid based on political agendas were stopped by the courts. She noted that the delay in releasing billions in necessary federal funds for student services and instruction reflects the administration's ongoing push to align spending with its own priorities.

Weingarten criticized this action as an "illegal usurpation of the authority of Congress" and emphasized the potential harm to children nationwide. She pointed out the financial uncertainty facing K-12 public school leaders who are unable to plan effectively for the upcoming academic year. Programs that could be impacted include summer and after-school initiatives, migrant education, and English language acquisition, alongside challenges in recruiting and retaining effective educators.

She labeled the funding freeze as "lawless," asserting that these are congressionally approved programs for the current year. Weingarten argued that the administration lacks the authority to deprive children of resources for ideological reasons.

Furthermore, she condemned the withholding of funds, particularly as it coincides with what she described as a "betrayal" in the form of a bill that could remove healthcare access for millions and reduce food security for children, while benefiting Trump's wealthy associates with tax cuts.

In her statement, Weingarten urged the Education Department to release the funds immediately, stating that withholding them serves no purpose and only harms students.

The AFT represents 1.8 million individuals, including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, school-related personnel, higher education faculty, professional staff, government employees, nurses, healthcare workers, and early childhood educators.

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