Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown secured a court order compelling the Trump administration to restore access to over $1 billion in Department of Education (ED) grants, critical for supporting low-income and unhoused students and addressing COVID-19’s lasting impacts on K-12 education. The preliminary injunction, issued by Judge Edgardo Ramos of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ensures states can access these funds as litigation continues.
On April 10, Brown joined 15 other attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor in suing the Trump administration for abruptly terminating access to Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) grants, established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. The ED had previously allowed states to access these funds until March 2026. The court order blocks ED’s March 28, 2025, letter from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, which rescinded states’ access to ESF money.
“COVID-19 may be over, but its impact is still being felt in schools across our State and nation as reading and math scores remain lower than pre-pandemic levels and students continue to struggle with behavioral health issues since schools reopened,” said Attorney General Brown. “This ruling preserves hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland schools, allowing our educational leaders to continue giving their students the support they need and deserve. This preliminary injunction is a big victory for Maryland families and ensures vulnerable children will be able to access the services they rely on while we continue to fight for this funding – and their futures – in court.”
The ESF supports three programs: Homeless Children and Youth, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, and Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools. These initiatives provide resources for tutoring, after-school programs, and infrastructure improvements to promote student health and safety. In Baltimore City Public Schools, ESF funds have supported enrichment activities and facility upgrades.
The coalition argued that ED’s termination of these funds created a significant budget shortfall, threatening essential services for students and teachers. The injunction prevents ED from enforcing its decision, ensuring continued access to the funds during the lawsuit. The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai?i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, and Oregon, alongside Pennsylvania’s governor.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing educational challenges post-COVID-19, including declines in reading and math scores and increased behavioral health issues among students. Maryland schools rely on ESF funds to address these gaps, particularly for vulnerable populations. The court’s decision ensures that programs supporting low-income and unhoused students remain funded while the case progresses.
This legal action reflects broader efforts to protect federal education funding. The ESF was designed to help schools recover from pandemic-related disruptions, and its abrupt termination sparked concerns about long-term harm to students. The coalition’s victory marks a significant step in preserving resources for education recovery nationwide.
