It comes amid a wider review impacting schools across the U.S., aiming to ensure the grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
MAINE, USA — Several federal education grants are on hold while they are under review by the Trump administration.
According to a statement from the Maine Department of Education (DOE), the U.S. Department of Education notified state agencies on Monday that the administration is reviewing multiple grant programs to “ensur[e] taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.”
While the grants are under review, they are available for obligation by school districts at the start of the fiscal year, which began on July 1.
The pause is delaying access to resources typically available to Maine schools, according to the Maine DOE. It comes amid a wider review, which is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for schools nationwide, to ensure the grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
The delay affects funding for programs that support things like after-school and summer programming, teacher training, and adult education.
The Maine DOE says it has been in communication with Maine schools and sent a priority notice to districts on June 27, then a follow-up notice on Tuesday.
It has also informed Maine’s Congressional delegation of a possible $25 million loss in funding, based on the 2025 fiscal year’s allocations, urging members to request the funding to be released as soon as possible.
The programs impacted include:
Members of Maine’s Congressional delegation weighed in on the funding pause.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine
“I strongly oppose the Administration’s decision to pause the delivery of education formula grant funding to states and local school districts across the country. This funding was appropriated by Congress and is critical to Maine public school programs, including those that support low-income families, teacher professional development, and after school programs and summer education. The Administration should release these funds without any further delay.”
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine
A spokesperson for Golden’s office confirmed the representative has been in communication with Maine DOE and the rest of the Congressional delegation about the funding freeze and is working to find more information.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine
“It is absolutely outrageous that President Trump is illegally stealing nearly $7 billion in education funds already approved by Congress and signed into law—including more than $26 million owed to Maine’s public schools. This is not a delay; this is theft of taxpayer dollars that our schools desperately need to keep teachers in classrooms, provide after-school programs, train educators, serve English learners and migrant students, and deliver academic support for our most vulnerable children.
“The Trump Administration’s unlawful seizure of these funds, orchestrated by OMB Director Russ Vought who has effectively taken control of the Department of Education from Secretary Linda McMahon, is creating chaos and uncertainty for school districts across Maine who were counting on these critical resources starting July 1. Any delay to the release of these funds will negatively impact the preparedness of Maine’s schools for the start of the school year and has already forced some schools to start laying off employees supported by federal programs. Public schools are already stretched thin—class sizes have grown, teachers remain overworked and underpaid, and our students need every available resource to succeed.
“This brazen violation of the law is part of this Administration’s broader assault on public education. Russ Vought’s so-called ‘pocket rescissions’—better known as an illegal line-item veto—represent a dangerous power grab that undermines Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending.
“The Maine Department of Education is right to sound the alarm about this crisis. My office is in contact with state education officials, and I’m working closely with my colleagues in the Maine delegation and the House Appropriations Committee to demand the immediate and full release of these stolen funds.
“Every day this money is withheld is another day that Maine students are denied the resources they need and deserve.”
NEWS CENTER Maine has reached out to other members of Maine’s congressional delegation for comment.
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