Democratic State Attorneys General Sue to Restore COVID-Related Programs for K-12 Students

The state says they are planning funding and addressing the current massive budget shortage due to policy changes.

A group of Democrats’ attorney general and governors sued the Trump administration on April 10 to stop the end of more than $1.1 billion in funding to address the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on K-12 students.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, responds to a March 28 announcement by the Department of Education, which means that the state will no longer be able to access funds within the program implemented by the Pandemic Relief Act passed during the Biden administration. Previously, the agency said the funds would be accessible by March 2026.

The lawsuit said they are planning funding and are currently dealing with a major budget shortage due to the institution’s policy changes, the lawsuit said.

They said funds will be allocated for facility upgrades and will provide individualized guidance to students who have fallen behind during the Covid-19 pandemic and will feed homeless students.

“The Trump administration’s latest attack on our schools hurts our most vulnerable students and makes it difficult for them to thrive,” said New York Attorney General Lettia James, one of the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit. “It’s outrageously illegal to cut down on the school system and access the critical resources students and teachers rely on.”

She was joined by the California Attorney General, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and the District of Columbia, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro being an additional plaintiff.

The group claims that the Trump administration will reverse the administration by allowing access to funds that violate required procedures under the Management Procedures Act. They are asking the courts to issue an order to vacate the end of funds for the education sector and restore previous policies, allowing the state to access the funds until next March.

The White House and the Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment on each publication time.

President Donald Trump said educational institutions should be returned to the state and parents should decide which one is best for their children. He signed an executive order last month, dictating the administration to speed up the process of dismantling the education sector. This requires council approval.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, plaintiff in Thursday’s lawsuit, accused Trump of “disrupting schools and putting the academic success of a generation of American children.”

“I am taking the President to the 13th court to ensure that the children have the educational opportunities they deserve,” Bonta wrote in a statement.

Many groups have filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s drastic cuts, claiming they have revoked contracts and grants assigned to Congress without first entering them from the legislative department.

Reuters contributed to this report.