Pallone Statement on Trump Administration’s Reversal of School Funding Freeze

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it will release $5.5 billion in education funding it had illegally withheld from states, including $162 million owed to New Jersey schools:

“The Trump Administration’s decision to finally release this funding is not an act of leadership. It is a direct result of sustained public pressure, legal challenges, and bipartisan outrage. We said this freeze was illegal. We demanded action. And we made clear the consequences of playing political games with public education.

“In New Jersey alone, $162 million was withheld -- funding already appropriated by Congress -- and needed for afterschool programs, STEM education, and teacher training. That disruption hurt our schools and threatened the stability of the upcoming school year.

“The President’s excuse that some of these funds supported programs he disagreed with politically was a blatant overreach and a violation of the Constitution. Congress controls the purse strings, not the White House.

“This episode is a reminder that when we fight back and raise our voices, it works. I’m glad we were able to protect New Jersey’s public schools from this deeply misguided attack, but it should have never happened in the first place.”

Earlier this month, Pallone sent a letter to Trump Budget Director Russell Vought demanding the immediate release of New Jersey’s share of the frozen funding and warning the action violated Article I of the Constitution. The full letter is available here. 

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