SEATTLE, Wash. – A federal judge has blocked cuts to mental health funding for K-12 schools, following a lawsuit led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown. The lawsuit challenged the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding, which was previously approved by Congress.
On October 21, U.S. District Court Judge Kymberly Evanson rejected the U.S. Department of Education’s motion to dismiss the case. She issued a preliminary injunction, stating the department acted in an arbitrary manner, violating the Administrative Procedure Act.
The attempted cuts targeted a bipartisan act of Congress that allocated $1 billion for mental health supports in schools. This funding followed the tragic deaths of 19 students and two teachers during a mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
The National Association of School Psychologists reported that the funding helped serve nearly 775,000 students and hire nearly 1,300 school mental health professionals. They found a 50% reduction in suicide risk at high-need schools and improvements in absenteeism and behavioral issues.
On April 29, the Department of Education sent notices to grantees, claiming their grants conflicted with the administration’s priorities. The judge’s injunction prevents these cuts from taking effect in several educational districts in Washington and at the University of Washington.
Brown expressed relief, saying, “It’s a relief to students and their families that a large number of these programs are shielded for now.” He emphasized the continued fight in court to uphold the law and support young Americans’ mental health.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging the funding cuts violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution.
Attorneys general from 16 states joined the lawsuit, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Illinois.
