Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for halting access to essential Department of Education programs. These programs are crucial for supporting low-income and homeless students, as well as providing financial aid to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 education.
"Though Massachusetts has some of the strongest public K-12 schools in the country, we are not immune from the devastating and lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," said AG Campbell. "I will continue fighting to protect Massachusetts residents, especially our teachers and young people who would be harmed by the Administration’s reckless policies."
This legal action follows a decision by the Department, communicated on March 28, to unilaterally cease states' access to significant grants initially available under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The grants include funding through three programs: Homeless Children and Youth (HCY), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), and Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS). These funds had been guaranteed for access until March 2026 but were abruptly terminated, impacting many vulnerable students and creating substantial budget gaps.
AG Campbell and her coalition, which includes attorneys general from 15 states and the Governor of Pennsylvania, emphasize that this decision violates the Administrative Procedure Act. They argue that it reversed the Department’s previous stance without proper explanation and against congressional intent. The coalition is thus seeking legal avenues to reinstate access to these funds to ensure necessary services and educational quality are maintained.
Joining AG Campbell in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon.