California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a motion for preliminary injunction as part of a multistate coalition to prevent the U.S. Department of Education from halting grants provided through school mental health funding programs. These grants, which include approximately $200 million allocated to various educational entities in California, are at risk due to what the coalition claims is an unlawful discontinuation by the Trump Administration.
Attorney General Bonta criticized the decision, stating, “The Trump Administration’s Department of Education should be focused on supporting the success and education of our students, but instead they are using flimsy and unlawful excuses to rip funding from projects that support the mental health and well-being of our students.” He emphasized the potential harm this loss could cause to students in low-income and rural areas.
On June 30, Bonta joined 16 other states in a lawsuit against the Department over its decision to stop these grants. The lawsuit aims to secure injunctive relief to maintain essential mental health services for schools across various states. These services are considered vital for student well-being and academic success.
Despite successful outcomes from these programs, grantees received notices around April 29 indicating their funding would not continue due to conflicts with new priorities set by the Trump Administration. The coalition argues that this decision was made without proper justification or consideration of program performance, allegedly violating several legal principles including the Administrative Procedure Act.
The motion seeks judicial intervention while litigation proceeds. A copy of the motion is available for public access.
