BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced this week that he has joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit (PDF) against the Trump administration. The lawsuit aims to restore access to crucial Department of Education (ED) programs that provide funding to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students.
The ED recently informed states that it was terminating access to hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), originally slated to be available until March 2026. These grants are vital for supporting programs like Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS), and Homeless Children and Youth (HCY).
According to the coalition, the ED’s abrupt decision has created significant budget gaps for state education departments and local school districts, jeopardizing essential services and potentially impacting the ability to pay teachers. The lawsuit argues that the ED’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act by reversing previous extensions without adequate explanation and contradicting Congress’ intent.
“The Trump Administration’s decision to cut this funding has thrown Maryland schools into turmoil and uncertainty and threatens valuable programs that help homeless and low-income students recover from the painful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Attorney General Brown. “This is a breathtakingly heartless action that threatens to change children’s futures for the worse, and our Office will not stand for it.”
Without this funding, states cannot provide essential public services, pay public employees, or afford the best education for K-12 students. The coalition is seeking a preliminary and permanent court order to prevent the ED from further changing its position, ensuring continued access to these crucial funds. The other states involved in the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via Twitter
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