The Trump administration has withheld roughly $7 billion in federal education grants that Congress appropriated for the 2025 fiscal year, prompting a formal challenge from House Democrats. The funds—which support teacher training, migrant and English-learner programs, student enrichment and extended-day learning—were due to reach school districts on July 1 but have been frozen pending an internal review, lawmakers said. Representative Lucy McBath said she is leading a letter signed by 150 Democratic colleagues demanding the immediate release of the money, calling the action unlawful. The U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget have not publicly explained the basis or expected duration of the review. Local officials report that the delay is withholding more than $8 million from Wake County, North Carolina, nearly $19 million from El Paso County, Texas, and millions more from districts in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District and elsewhere. Administrators warn the interruption could force staff layoffs and stall programs as schools finalize budgets for the 2025-26 academic year. A New America analysis estimates about $6.2 billion of the affected amount is tied directly to K-12 districts, with high-poverty and English-learner students facing the greatest losses. Without clarity from federal agencies, districts say they cannot plan reliably for the coming school year.