HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen slammed the Trump administration for withholding over $750,000 in federal funds from Branford, East Haven, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, Middlefield, and North Branford schools.
Late last month, the Trump Administration froze $6.8 billion in federal K-12 education funding for the 2025-26 school year. Connecticut schools are set to lose $53.6 million, 10% of their total federal education funding for the school year. Local schools will see significant funding cuts:
Branford: $294,585
East Haven: $299,012
Guilford: $48,884
Madison: $27,327
North Branford: $36,292
Region 13: $31,083
Region 17: $37,589
Total Funding Loss: $774,772
“This action from the Trump administration is illegal and it is immoral,” said Sen. Cohen. “This education funding was approved and allocated by Congress and the President has no authority to freeze these dollars. Donald Trump and his administration are scrambling, trying to pay for his budget plan that provides tax cuts to billionaires. If kicking vulnerable Americans off their healthcare and food assistance wasn’t bad enough, they have now resorted to taking dollars out of our local classrooms. These actions will further strain local budgets, leaving local taxpayers footing the bill and potentially decreasing services for our students. The impacts of these irresponsible decisions will be felt for years to come.”
According to the Connecticut School and State Finance Project, the Trump administration froze several specific grants. The impounded funds largely support multi-language learners, before and after-school programs which serve as a lifeline for working families, academic enrichment, adult education and educator training:
