The Trump administration is moving to cancel $1 billion in school mental health grants, arguing that the programs reflect priorities from the previous administration and conflict with current policy goals.
Grant recipients were informed on Tuesday that their funding will not be renewed after this year. The grants were initially established through a 2022 gun violence prevention law signed by then-President Joe Biden, which allocated $1 billion to help schools expand access to mental health professionals such as counselors and psychologists.
A recent notice from the Department of Education stated that a review found the programs in question violated civil rights laws, conflicted with the administration’s emphasis on merit and fairness, and represented a misuse of federal funds.
The cuts gained public attention through a social media post by conservative strategist Christopher Rufo, who alleged that the grants had been used to push “left-wing racialism and discrimination.” He shared excerpts from grant materials that referenced hiring nonwhite mental health staff and incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals.
“No more slush fund for activists under the guise of mental health,” Rufo wrote in the post.
The Department of Education later confirmed the decision. In a notice sent to members of Congress, officials said the administration intends to restructure how mental health support is delivered in schools, with the goal of better addressing student behavioral health without using what they view as discriminatory DEI frameworks.
According to the department’s update, “The Department plans to re-envision and re-compete its mental health program funds to more effectively support students’ behavioral health needs.”
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has overseen the rollback of billions in federal funding tied to DEI initiatives and has signaled plans to cut even more, particularly from education institutions. His administration contends that race-based hiring and admissions policies are discriminatory, especially toward white and Asian American students, and has sought to eliminate DEI programs in favor of colorblind approaches.
