Blue state governor sues Trump admin for revoking education funding
Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has taken a stand against President Donald Trump’s Department of Education alongside 15 other states and Washington, D.C. The challenge comes after the Education Department revoked millions in pandemic-era education funding for their states. Shapiro and the group of attorneys general filed a complaint against Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the Education Department, contesting the federal government’s decision to rescind funding allocated to address the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The complaint alleges that the funding, which was allocated through March 2026, was suddenly revoked on March 28 without any prior notice. The states were blindsided by the Department of Education’s decision to rescind extensions of time to liquidate grant funds that had been previously approved. The funds in question were allocated by Congress under a pandemic-era law, with the intention of supporting states in combating the impacts of the pandemic.
Shapiro emphasized that every student in Pennsylvania deserves the opportunity to succeed and should not be adversely affected by the federal government’s reversal of its commitment. The $185 million in federal funding that was revoked from Pennsylvania was meant to support academic and mental health programs, implement new technology, and improve infrastructure in schools. Shapiro argued that school districts and education agencies had already spent the allocated funds, making the cancellation of $185 million a burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers.
The complaint was co-signed by attorneys general from a total of 16 states and Washington, D.C., including Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. These state leaders contended that the Department of Education had no grounds to rescind their federal funding, as the pandemic had already ended when the funding extension was granted, and the funds were not limited to COVID-19 specific programs.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the Education Department stated that the pandemic was over, and states and school districts could no longer claim emergency pandemic funds for COVID relief. The Department established a process to consider funding extension requests on a project-specific basis to ensure that funds were being used to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on student learning.
The revocation of pandemic-related federal education funding follows President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education and return educational authority to the states. Shapiro has been proactive in challenging the Trump administration to unlock federal funding for Pennsylvania, including a recent lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services for canceling public health grants.
Overall, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s efforts to protect education funding in Pennsylvania and hold the federal government accountable demonstrate his commitment to ensuring that students have access to quality education and resources. His actions highlight the importance of advocating for educational equity and supporting states in their efforts to provide a bright future for all students.
