A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end funding for school-based mental health services, a move New York officials say protects critical support for students.
Attorney General Letitia James announced the ruling Dec. 22 after the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted her motion for summary judgment, declaring the funding cuts illegal.
James and a coalition of 15 other attorneys general sued the U.S. Department of Education in July after the administration moved to abruptly discontinue two federal grant programs that pay for mental health professionals in schools. Congress created the programs with bipartisan support following school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas, to address rising youth mental health needs.
“Children across the country are facing record-high rates of mental health challenges,” James said in a statement. She said the ruling allows states to continue providing “empathetic, easily accessible mental health care” for young people.
The court’s decision preserves at least $19 million in previously approved funding for New York schools. That money supports counselors, social workers, and psychologists who work directly with students.
State officials said the ruling ensures schools can continue offering services that many families rely on, especially as youth mental health concerns continue to rise nationwide.
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