A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Department of Education from cutting funding for school-based mental health programs after a coalition of 16 state attorneys general, led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, filed a lawsuit challenging the move.
U.S. District Court Judge Kymberly Evanson issued a preliminary injunction on October 21, stating the department appeared to act in an arbitrary and capricious manner that violated the Administrative Procedure Act. She also rejected the department’s motion to dismiss the case.
The injunction prevents the cuts from taking effect at specific sites that submitted declarations to the court, including three educational service districts in Washington and the University of Washington. These service districts cover approximately 90 school districts in the northwest part of the state.
“It’s a relief to students and their families that a large number of these programs are shielded for now,” said Attorney General Brown. “We’ll continue this fight in court until the administration agrees to follow the law and the will of Congress in supporting the mental health of young Americans.”
The lawsuit was filed on June 30 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The complaint alleges the Education Department violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution by discontinuing funding to programs Congress had already approved.
The targeted funding was part of a bipartisan $1 billion package passed by Congress following the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed. The funding aimed to add 14,000 mental health professionals to schools most in need across the country.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, during the first year of funding, the program served nearly 775,000 students and led to the hiring of almost 1,300 school mental health professionals. Data from participating schools showed a 50 percent reduction in suicide risk at high-need campuses, along with declines in absenteeism and behavioral issues and improvements in student-staff relationships.
On April 29, the Education Department sent standardized notices to grantees stating their programs conflicted with the Trump administration’s priorities and that funding would be discontinued. The department had awarded grants with a five-year project period but reassesses continuation annually based on grantee performance.
“School-based mental health programs can be a literal life saver for our students,” Brown said. “The Department of Education’s decision threatens the safety and well-being of our youth.”
The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin joined Washington in filing the lawsuit. They are seeking a ruling that the cuts are illegal and asking the court to permanently rescind the department’s decision.