Introduction to the Lawsuit
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has once again joined a coalition of other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration, this time for blocking education funding as the school year is set to begin across the country.
Background of the Suit
The suit, announced Monday, seeks to release state education funds that pay for after-school and summer programming at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA or public schools attended by 1.4 million children and teenagers nationwide. The 24 attorneys general say the move is unconstitutional and violates multiple federal statutes.
Impact of the Funding Freeze
The attorneys general said an expected $219 million in federal education funding could be frozen. Generally, states receive about a quarter of this by July 1 to prepare for the start of the academic year, though Illinois and other states received notice this year that the funds wouldn’t be disbursed.
Programs Affected by the Freeze
Congress set aside money for the programs to provide academic support, enrichment and child care to mostly low-income families. But the Trump administration recently froze the funding, saying it wants to ensure programs align with the Republican president’s priorities.
Reaction from Illinois Attorney General
“With the start of the school year only a month away for many Illinois students, the Trump administration’s illegal funding freeze is wreaking havoc on school budgets, suspending programs and causing stress and anxiety for families who depend on them,” Raoul said. “I will continue to stand with other attorneys general against the president’s unlawful and arbitrary actions that threaten the separation of powers as well as the rule of law.”
Parties Involved in the Suit
The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Also part of the suit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Coalition of Attorneys General
It’s a coalition of attorneys general slightly larger than the 19 Raoul has routinely joined in more than 20 other cases, including for suits over triggers that can make semiautomatic rifles fire faster, attempts to change election law, and cuts to public health and medical research funding, and federal access to immigrant Medicaid data, among others.
Conclusion
The lawsuit against the Trump administration over frozen education funding is a significant move by the coalition of attorneys general. With the start of the school year approaching, the fate of these education funds hangs in the balance, and the outcome of this lawsuit will have a substantial impact on the education system in Illinois and the other states involved.
FAQs
Q: How much funding is at stake in the lawsuit?
A: An expected $219 million in federal education funding could be frozen.
Q: What programs will be affected by the funding freeze?
A: After-school and summer programming at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA or public schools attended by 1.4 million children and teenagers nationwide.
Q: Why did the Trump administration freeze the funding?
A: The administration says it wants to ensure programs align with the Republican president’s priorities.
Q: Who is involved in the lawsuit?
A: 24 attorneys general, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
