Attorney General William Tong this week secured court orders in two separate lawsuits blocking the Trump Administration from unlawful cuts harming Connecticut students.
“We applaud Attorney General William Tong on his successful efforts to protect Connecticut’s students, families, and educators. Today’s announcement of two court victories defending critical funding for school mental health programs and comprehensive sexual health education are wins for every child’s right to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe, supportive environment,” said CEA President Kate Dias.
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from illegally cutting $1 billion in congressionally approved funding for K-12 mental health programs after a coalition of 16 state attorneys general, including Attorney General Tong, filed suit in June. In Connecticut, these cuts impacted more than $3 million to support social workers in Hartford, New Britain, Vernon and Waterbury schools through 2029.
A preliminary injunction was issued late Monday by a different federal judge blocking the Trump administration from defunding teen reproductive and sexual health education programs over language that affirms all young peoples’ gender identities. The ruling is the latest in a lawsuit filed by 16 states and the District of Columbia, including Connecticut.
The Trump Administration’s threat put at risk more than $1.6 million in funding awarded to Connecticut through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). Connecticut has used PREP funding to support evidence-based educational programming that helps reduce teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually-transmitted infections. Historically, the PREP program has served an annual average of 800 to 1,200 at-risk youth in Connecticut.
“Connecticut teachers know firsthand how vital these programs are to student success,” Dias said. “By defending our state’s values and fighting back against unlawful federal cuts that would undermine our excellent public schools, Attorney General Tong has ensured that Connecticut schools can continue providing essential resources and opportunities our students deserve.”
“Trump is arbitrarily and lawlessly seizing taxpayer dollars meant to help Connecticut families and kids,” Tong said. “We’re suing, we’re winning, and we’re going to keep fighting for as long as it takes to protect our state and our families, and to stop Trump from illegally funneling our funds to his vanity projects and tax breaks for billionaires.”
