Just days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting the release of frozen education money to the states, the Education Department announced it will distribute $1.3 billion in previously withheld grant money for after-school programs, the Associated Press reports.
The Trump administration on July 1 withheld over $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, adult literacy and English language instruction amid a review to ensure the alignment of spending with White House priorities.
GOP senators, in a letter sent last week, said the withheld money supported programs with a history of bipartisan support, and that these were critical to local communities. The funds had been appropriated by Congress in a bill signed by Trump.
The administration’s review of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which support after-school and summer programming, has reportedly been completed, and that funding will be released to states. The rest of the withheld grants — nearly $5 billion — continues to be reviewed for bias by the Office of Management and Budget.
