Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) informed state education agencies that it would delay the release of nearly $7 billion in FY25 federal K–12 grants—funds approved by Congress in March and originally slated for distribution on July 1. The withheld funding includes:

• $376 million for Title I-C migrant education state grants
• $2.190 billion for Title II-A supporting effective instruction state grants
• $890 million for Title III-A English language acquisition grants
• $1.33 billion for Title IV-B 21^st century community learning centers
• $1.38 billion for Title IV-A student support and academic achievement grants
• $715 million for adult education state grants

OMB stated they are reviewing whether funds are being used to promote a “radical left-wing agenda” (e.g., undocumented student scholarships, LGBTQ+ content), though no final determinations have been issued and no timeline has been shared. 

States and thousands of school districts have already budgeted these funds for staff salaries, vendor contracts, curriculum, and technology. House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) condemned the Trump administration's withholding of the funds, and the Council of Chief State School Officers emphasized the urgent need for these funds to support summer programming and preparations for the coming school year. 

Under federal law, the executive branch is generally prohibited from withholding congressionally appropriated funds without legislative approval. Lawsuits challenging the move are expected.

Trump Budget Request for FY26 Consolidates 18 Education Programs

Work has begun on FY 2026 appropriations, and education advocates, including NSTA, are opposing the deep cuts proposed in President Donald Trump’s FY 2026 budget request.

As expected, the White House’s FY 2026 budget request proposes reducing overall funding for the Department of Education from approximately $78.7 billion in FY 2025 to $66.7 billion in FY 2026. The request consolidates 18 existing programs—including Title II, Title IV, Part A, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, state assessments, rural education, literacy initiatives, and arts education—into a single $2 billion "K– 12 Simplified Funding Program." This change would represent a net reduction of more than $4.5 billion from current funding levels. 

The administration's budget request also proposes eliminating funding for numerous K–12 programs, including English language acquisition (Title III), migrant education, civics education, gifted and talented programs, and school safety initiatives.

Committee action on this spending bill is scheduled for late July. If agreement is not reached by October 1, Congress may rely on a continuing resolution to temporarily extend FY 2025 funding levels or once again face the prospect of a shutdown. 

NSTA is actively working with the STEM Education Coalition on helping to restore these federal programs. A recent letter from the Coalition states: We urge Congressional appropriators to reject the proposed cuts to STEM education programs and restore funding to levels that reflect their critical role in America’s future. Specifically, we recommend:

• Preserving Targeted STEM Education Grants: Maintain funding for Department of Education programs like Title IV, Part A to support teacher training and student engagement in STEM.
• Protecting NSF’s Education Investments: Reverse the $5.2 billion cut to NSF, ensuring continued support for STEM education research and broadening participation initiatives.
• Enhancing K-12 STEM Infrastructure: Allocate funds to modernize STEM facilities, provide access to technology, and expand advanced coursework in underserved schools.
• Supporting Teacher Development: Reinvest in programs like the STEM Master Teacher Corps to recruit, train, and retain high-quality STEM educators.

Read the letter from the STEM Education Coalition here.

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Creates Federal Voucher Program

Trump’s tax-and-spending package, the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” passed the House on Thursday, July 3, by a 218 to 214 vote. The president signed the legislation into law on July 4.

The bill includes the first major federal program to direct public funds toward private school tuition. Individual taxpayers would be eligible for tax credits on donations made to organizations that award scholarships, allowing K–12 students to attend private schools. The Senate version removes the cap on federal spending for the program and makes it a permanent part of the tax law. Stay tuned.

For the latest advocacy and policy updates, be sure to check out our Legislative Updates blog series, which is featured in our e-newsletters, NSTA Reports, and NSTA Weekly. You can also access the articles directly on the NSTA Blog. 

The mission of NSTA is to transform science education to benefit all through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy.