• The Trump administration canceled $1 billion in mental health grants for schools, citing concerns that the funds were being used for diversity initiatives rather than direct mental health support.
• School districts and advocacy groups have criticized the decision, arguing that the funding is essential for addressing the student mental health crisis, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The cancellation impacts various programs and staffing, potentially disrupting mental health services for students and leaving districts scrambling to find alternative funding sources.

The Trump administration, through the Department of Education, has discontinued $1 billion in federal grants earmarked for school-based mental health services. This decision, impacting programs funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, has triggered widespread concern among educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers. The Department of Education justified its action by alleging that grant recipients were using the funds for initiatives unrelated to mental health, such as implementing race-based recruiting quotas. This move has raised questions about the future of student mental health support and the potential consequences for schools already grappling with a growing mental health crisis.

• What: Cancellation of $1 billion in federal grants for school-based mental health services.
• Who: U.S. Department of Education, school districts nationwide, students, mental health professionals, and advocacy groups.
• When: The cancellation was announced in May 2025, affecting grants initially awarded after the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
• Where: The cancellations affect school districts nationwide, including Wake County Public School System in North Carolina and the Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative.

The Trump administration's decision to cancel these grants reflects a shift in priorities and a disagreement over how federal funds should be used to support student mental health. The administration argues that the funds were being diverted to initiatives unrelated to mental health, particularly those focused on diversity and racial equity. However, critics argue that these initiatives are integral to addressing the root causes of mental health issues and providing culturally competent care. The cancellation raises concerns about the potential impact on student well-being, particularly as schools continue to grapple with the mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The future of these programs and the services they provide is now uncertain, with districts exploring options for appealing the decision or finding alternative funding sources.

"Under the deeply flawed priorities of the Biden Administration, grant recipients used the funding to implement race-based actions like recruiting quotas in ways that have nothing to do with mental health and could hurt the very students the grants are supposed to help."

"It wasn’t just a policy from the previous administration, it was a bipartisan bill passed by Republicans and Democrats that supported kids."

"By canceling these grants, Secretary McMahon is taking a wrecking ball to several years of bipartisan funding agreements and leaving millions of students without the mental health support they need at school."

The Trump administration's cancellation of $1 billion in federal mental health grants, under the premise that the funds were misused for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, has triggered widespread apprehension regarding the future of student mental health support. Advocates fear that the cuts will compromise vital mental health services, potentially leading to layoffs of school social workers and counselors and the closure of college programs designed to train mental health providers. These cuts, perceived as part of a broader attack on DEI, are particularly alarming given the already strained counselor-to-student ratios in many states and the escalating mental health crisis among students. The elimination of these grants, authorized under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in response to mass shootings, raises concerns about school safety and violence prevention. As school districts grapple with this sudden financial shortfall, the long-term consequences could include reduced access to in-person counseling and teletherapy, disproportionately affecting students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and students with disabilities who rely heavily on school-based mental health services. The Department of Education intends to explore alternative means of supporting student mental health. However, the immediate impact of defunding existing programs creates significant uncertainty and necessitates a comprehensive re-evaluation of strategies to prioritize and address the mental health needs of students nationwide.