Democratic senators urge Education Department to halt grant front-loading
Senate appropriators Murray and Baldwin, both Democrats, say the department's front-loading of grants has held back about $630 million across roughly 35 programs. They warn it could also lead to funding cuts in later years.
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What happened
Two senior Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patty Murray and Tammy Baldwin, criticized the Education Department's practice of front-loading grants. They say the approach has kept more than $600 million from reaching schools and students this year. They urged Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse the practice.
Why it matters
The senators say the practice has withheld about $630 million in appropriations from new recipients across roughly 35 grant programs. They warn it could also let funding be cut in later years.
Timeline
- Oct 14, 11:40 AM ET: Murray and Baldwin called on the Education Department to abandon its grant frontloading tactic.
- Oct 15, 5:00 AM ET: A letter from the two senators said the approach makes it easier to cancel funding in future years.
- Oct 15, 8:00 PM ET: The senators urged McMahon to reverse the practice, saying about $630 million had been withheld from new recipients.
Coverage
- Democratic Senators Criticize ED for Front-Loading Grants (insidehighered.com)
- Democratic lawmakers accuse Education Department of ‘frontloading’ grants (Yahoo News)
- Senate Democrats Decry Education Department’s Budget Maneuvers (news.bgov.com)
- Murray, Baldwin Call on Education Department to Abandon its Latest Tactic to Cut Grant Funding to Communities (murray.senate.gov)
- Education Department Routes $3.4 Billion Through Other Agencies (mychesco.com)
- Education Department Watchdog to Investigate Handoff Of Programs To Labor (Yahoo News)
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