Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration Cuts to School Mental Health and Sexual Education Grants Across Multiple States

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from cutting federal grants related to school mental health services and sexual education programs that include gender identity references. The ruling came after lawsuits from multiple states challenging the administration's decisions, which were found to be arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The mental health grants, totaling about $1 billion and originally funded by Congress following the Uvalde school shooting, were intended to support counselors and mental health professionals in schools, showing significant benefits such as reduced suicide risk and improved student behavior. The judge emphasized the harm that would result from abruptly ending these grants, including loss of staff and services vital to students' well-being. Additionally, the court rejected the administration’s prohibition on teaching gender identity in federally funded sexual education programs, stating that excluding gender identity information is not medically accurate and constitutes unlawful sex discrimination. State attorneys general have vowed to continue fighting to uphold the law and support the mental health and educational needs of young Americans.