New York – In a decisive victory for public education, Attorney General Letitia James has secured a court order compelling the Trump administration to reinstate access to over $1 billion in Department of Education (ED) funds. The funds are crucial for supporting low-income students and schools affected by the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The preliminary injunction issued by Judge Edgardo Ramos of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York mandates that the ED restore states’ access to these funds while the case proceeds. James had led a coalition of 15 other attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor in suing the Trump administration over the unilateral cutoff of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
‘The Trump administration’s illegal decision to cut off essential education funding put some of our most vulnerable students at risk,’ said Attorney General James. ‘This is a major win for our students and teachers who are counting on this funding to help them succeed. I will continue to defend New York’s schools and ensure they get the resources they need to provide a quality education to everyone.’
ARPA, which allocated funds for programs like Homeless Children and Youth (HCY), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), and Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS), has been instrumental in helping schools recover from the pandemic’s effects. In New York, these funds have supported school repairs and improvements, such as constructing additional classrooms and purchasing new library books.
The coalition argued that the arbitrary termination of access to these funds created a significant budget gap, threatening vital education services. Today’s injunction prevents the ED from enforcing its March 28, 2025 letter that rescinded states’ ability to access their ARPA funding.
Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and the District of Columbia, as well as Pennsylvania’s governor.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: NY AG
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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