Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on the Trump administration to immediately restore $6 million in federal funding for Wayne County public schools after a nationwide cut canceled grants mid-school year.
Schumer says the U.S. Department of Education abruptly canceled $168 million in Full-Service Community Schools grants in December, including funding that supports all 11 school districts in Wayne County.
Programs cut in the middle of the year
The Full-Service Community Schools program helps schools connect families to food, housing assistance, medical care, and mental health services. In Wayne County, the grants support more than 18 schools and community partners, including extracurricular programs and a food pantry for low-income students.
Schumer says pulling the money without warning forces schools into an impossible position: absorb the costs or eliminate services and staff. Wayne County was expecting $3 million of its $6 million grant to arrive this month.
“Ripping away support for students in rural areas, in the middle of the school year, is just plain cruel,” Schumer said. “The Full-Service Community Schools grant program helps hundreds of students and their families across Wayne County find their next meal or access health care.”
Concerns over legality and intent
In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Schumer and several Senate colleagues said the cuts may violate congressional intent. Lawmakers increased annual funding for the program from $25 million to $150 million with bipartisan support, and the grants were approved as five-year awards.
The canceled grants still had two or three years remaining. Schumer argues the department offered little explanation, gave schools limited time to appeal, and failed to cite performance problems.
The senators also pushed back on the administration’s claim that some grants conflicted with policy priorities or civil rights law, saying the department did not provide specific evidence.
Local impact and national fallout
Wayne County Community Schools has operated for 15 years and relies on the federal funding to pay community school coordinators, especially in rural buildings. Schumer says losing the grants threatens services that improve attendance, academic performance, and student wellbeing.
The cuts have sparked lawsuits, bipartisan criticism, and growing concern from educators nationwide, as districts warn of layoffs and canceled programs if the funding is not restored.
Bottom line
Schumer says the Trump administration must immediately reinstate the Full-Service Community Schools grants, including the $6 million for Wayne County. He argues that pulling congressionally approved funding mid-year puts vulnerable students at risk and undermines programs designed to help families and schools succeed.
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