$6 Billion Under Review as Trump Administration Claims “Misuse” of Education Grants
In a move catching many off guard, the federal government has frozen over $6 billion in funding meant for after-school and summer programs across the country — including dozens in metro Atlanta.
The funding pause, triggered by a review from the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Office of Management and Budget, has left local nonprofits scrambling. And with summer already underway, children and working parents are now stuck in limbo.
“We’re Not Sure What to Tell the Parents”
At the core of the issue is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, a longstanding federal grant that helps pay for after-school tutoring, arts, sports, and summer enrichment — especially in under-resourced communities.
One Atlanta nonprofit, which serves nearly 600 kids daily through a cluster of neighborhood learning centers, said they were notified last Thursday that their FY 2025 funding was “under review.”
“We’re not sure what to tell the parents,” said Melinda Carter, executive director of Eastside Futures. “They rely on us. Some of them work late shifts. Some are single moms. And now they’re left wondering if they have to choose between their job and child care.”
Carter said her team was already operating on a tight budget. Without the grant money, she said, “We’ll probably have to cut back to half days. Maybe even furlough staff.”
Mixed Signals from D.C.
The White House hasn’t been crystal clear either. In a short statement to WABE, a spokesperson from the Office of Management and Budget confirmed the funding review is ongoing but offered no timeline for a decision.
“No decisions have been made yet,” the spokesperson wrote.
But that same statement also included a shot across the bow: “Initial findings show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”
No specific examples were cited. No agencies were named. Still, that one line was enough to send a chill through the non-profit sector.
One sentence: It’s not every day that you see “after-school snacks and soccer” accused of pushing a political agenda.
Who’s Hit Hardest?
It’s not just Atlanta.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, more than 1.6 million children are enrolled in 21st CCLC-supported programs nationally. In Georgia alone, roughly 43,000 students rely on these centers, especially in Atlanta Public Schools and rural counties.
Here’s what the freeze might mean on the ground:
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Hundreds of staff members — including tutors, coaches, and bus drivers — could lose their jobs
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Families may have to find costly or last-minute alternatives
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Students will miss out on learning, meals, and a safe space during critical after-school hours
And summer? That’s where it hits hardest.
“People think of summer break as a luxury,” said Tasha Willis, a youth advocate in Fulton County. “But for a lot of these families, it’s just a gap. A big, scary, expensive gap.”
A Gymnast, A Council, And A Room Full of Kids
Last month, Dominique Dawes — the three-time Olympic gymnast and co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition — visited a YMCA in Washington D.C. to highlight the importance of summer programs.
She spoke to a group of energetic fifth graders about resilience, teamwork, and staying active.
Now that same council finds its future programs frozen midstream.
One official from the council, speaking off the record, said they’ve already postponed two upcoming regional events due to uncertainty around the budget.
“All we can do is wait,” the official said, with a shrug you could practically hear over the phone.
Georgia Numbers Tell the Story
A look at statewide data shows just how much is at stake. In Georgia, 21st CCLC funds support a wide mix of urban, suburban, and rural programs. Here’s a snapshot from the Georgia Department of Education:
| Region | Students Served | Sites Operated | Funding Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Metro | 17,800 | 85 | Yes |
| South Georgia | 7,300 | 42 | Yes |
| North Georgia | 5,900 | 31 | Yes |
| Total (GA) | 43,000+ | 158 | $42M+ |
Even before the freeze, programs reported challenges hiring enough staff. Now, providers are facing the possibility of canceling entire sessions mid-summer.
The Politics Behind the Pause
Critics say the timing and language of the freeze are political.
“The phrase ‘radical leftwing agenda’ — that’s not budget language. That’s campaign rhetoric,” said Dr. Lauren Gonzalez, a public policy professor at Georgia State University.
She pointed to the Trump administration’s history of targeting education initiatives they view as too progressive, including past efforts to restrict diversity and equity training in schools.
Supporters of the review, meanwhile, argue taxpayer money should be held to higher scrutiny. “If programs are misused, they should be investigated,” said Rep. Mark Wallace (R-GA), who supports a full audit of all Department of Education grants.
Still, he admitted he hadn’t seen direct evidence of misuse in Georgia programs. “I just think we need transparency.”
One sentence: Transparency is a two-way street, and right now, local leaders say they’re left staring into fog.
What Comes Next?
There’s no clear answer yet. And that’s what’s rattling local groups the most.
“We’re not even asking for more money,” Carter from Eastside Futures said. “We’re just asking for the money we were already promised.”
Many programs are now relying on temporary fundraising, emergency reserves, and volunteers to keep going through the month. But that’s not sustainable.
And while Washington debates, the clock keeps ticking for families who don’t have time to wait.
