By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has secured a key court order Tuesday to block the Trump Administration from cutting off nearly $1 billion in U.S. Department of Education funding nationwide, including about $85 million earmarked for New Jersey.
According to information released by Platkin’s office, the federal funds, part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), were intended to help K-12 schools address the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding supports crucial programs for vulnerable students, including unhoused youth, as schools work to recover from lost classroom time and other pandemic challenges.
The legal action began on April 10, when Platkin, along with 15 other state attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor, filed suit after the Trump Administration abruptly halted access to the funds, which were originally approved for use through March 2026.
On Tuesday, Judge Edgardo Ramos of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the U.S. Department of Education to immediately restore states’ access to the funds while the lawsuit moves forward.
Attorney General Platkin praised the ruling, saying, “Today’s decision stops the Trump Administration’s reckless and harmful attempt to strip away critical education funding from New Jersey’s students and schools. We are committed to permanently protecting these resources that support some of our most vulnerable children.”
The coalition behind the lawsuit includes attorneys general from states such as New York, California, Illinois, and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia.
The case remains ongoing, with state leaders aiming to secure permanent access to the funds for schools across the country.