Trump Administration Withholds $200M from Illinois Schools - A Cold and Calculated Attack Against Families and Children

WESTMONT, IL – Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's withholding of $200 million in education funds in Illinois.

"The Trump administration’s decision to withhold over $200 million in federal education funding from Illinois is a cold and calculated attack on children and families who need support the most. These funds sustain vital programs like afterschool and summer learning, academic enrichment, and migrant education. This is money that has already been allocated by Congress. Stripping these dollars harms Black and Brown students, immigrant families, and rural communities. It’s part of a broader agenda to dismantle public education while handing massive tax breaks to the billionaire class.

"Unfortunately for Illinois citizens, while Donald Trump turns his back on public education, our state will have to fill the breach caused by his administration’s abdication of its responsibilities to the American public. This year, the state’s Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula was reduced. At the current rate, Illinois schools will not be fully funded until 2042—a delay our students cannot afford. This is a defining moment, and Springfield must rise to it and protect our children from the devastation Trump is wreaking on America’s schools. The Illinois Federation of Teachers calls on state leaders to prioritize public education with bold, comprehensive investment and secure the future every child deserves."