Court stops Trump administration from stopping grants for school mental health workers

On Thursday, a federal appeals court prevented the Trump administration from halting funding intended to expand mental health support in schools. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administrations appeal against a lower court ruling that reinstated grants originally issued under the Biden administration to hire additional counselors and social workers, especially in underserved and rural districts.

The court found that the Trump administration had not demonstrated a high probability of success in its challenge and indicated that the district court is likely to issue a final judgment soon.

The administration had sought to end these grants, citing objections to elements related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the programs, and aimed to terminate the funding after the current month. The effort to stop the grants was contested by 16 Democratic-led states, with the lower courts decision restoring the funds specifically for those states.

These grants, approved in 2022, were part of a response to growing concerns about the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on students. This case is one of several recent instances where Democratic states and legislators have resisted actions by the Education Department.

Earlier this year, some states challenged the termination of over 1,300 Education Department employees. Additionally, Senate Democrats recently criticized the department for attempting to move certain programs to other federal initiatives, calling the action illegal.

Author: Zoe Harrison