{"id":1994,"date":"2026-01-08T10:58:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=1994"},"modified":"2026-01-11T10:09:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T15:09:13","slug":"mental-health-funding-cuts-in-k-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/mental-health-funding-cuts-in-k-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Funding Cuts in K\u201112"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Press_Release**_0\"><strong>Press Release<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/ag\/press-releases\/2025-press-releases\/attorney-general-tong-sues-department-of-education-to-stop-mental-health-funding-cuts\">Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Tong Sues Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion to Stop Men\u00adtal Health Fund\u00ading Cuts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Preceding_Event**_0\"><strong>Preceding Event<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After a school shoot\u00ading in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 stu\u00addents and two teach\u00aders, Con\u00adgress appro\u00adpri\u00adat\u00aded $1 bil\u00adlion to per\u00adma\u00adnent\u00adly bring rough\u00adly 14,000 men\u00adtal health pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adals into K\u201112 schools. Accord\u00ading to the press release: \u201cAccord\u00ading to the Nation\u00adal Asso\u00adci\u00ada\u00adtion of School Psy\u00adchol\u00ado\u00adgists (NASP), grantees served near\u00adly 775,000 stu\u00addents and hired near\u00adly 1,300 school men\u00adtal health pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adals dur\u00ading the first year of fund\u00ading. NASP also found a 50% reduc\u00adtion in sui\u00adcide risk at high-need schools, decreas\u00ades in absen\u00adteeism and behav\u00adioral issues, and increas\u00ades in pos\u00adi\u00adtive stu\u00addent-staff engage\u00adment based on data from sam\u00adpled pro\u00adgrams.\u201c<br>On April 29, 2025 the Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion made the deci\u00adsion to dis\u00adcon\u00adtin\u00adue pro\u00adgram grants because of con\u00adflicts with the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion\u2019s pri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adties. The Depart\u00adment iden\u00adti\u00adfied its new pri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adties as being \u201cmer\u00adit, fair\u00adness, and excel\u00adlence in edu\u00adca\u00adtion.\u201d These new pri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adties were only com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adcat\u00aded to the grantees in the notices of dis\u00adcon\u00adtin\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion of the grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**General_Overview**_0\"><strong>General Overview<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Accord\u00ading to the press release dat\u00aded July 1, 2025, \u201cAttor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong today joined a coali\u00adtion of 16 state attor\u00adneys gen\u00ader\u00adal&nbsp;suing the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion&nbsp;to stop ille\u00adgal cuts to con\u00adgres\u00adsion\u00adal\u00adly approved fund\u00ading for men\u00adtal health pro\u00adgrams in K\u201112 schools.\u201d The law\u00adsuit alleges that the actions of the Depart\u00adment vio\u00adlate the Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtive Pro\u00adce\u00addures Act (APA) and the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion in not appro\u00adpri\u00adat\u00ading funds Con\u00adgress had vot\u00aded on and approved. The goal of the suit is to con\u00adtin\u00adue the award\u00ading of the 2 grant pro\u00adgrams, \u201cThe Depart\u00adment had award\u00aded this fund\u00ading to the nation\u2019s high-need, low-income, and rur\u00adal schools pur\u00adsuant to its Men\u00adtal Health Ser\u00advice Pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adal Demon\u00adstra\u00adtion Grant Pro\u00adgram (MHSP) and its School-Based Men\u00adtal Health Ser\u00advices Grant Pro\u00adgram (SBMH)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Connecticut_Nexus**_0\"><strong>Connecticut Nexus<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Grants of more than $3 mil\u00adlion to sup\u00adport social work\u00aders in Hart\u00adford, New Britain, Ver\u00adnon and Water\u00adbury schools through 2029 have been can\u00adcelled because of this new pol\u00adi\u00adcy. From the press release, \u201cThrough this pro\u00adgram, the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut received a $3.01 mil\u00adlion five-year grant to sup\u00adport 25 grad\u00adu\u00adate stu\u00addent social work interns serv\u00ading near\u00adly 46,000 stu\u00addents in Hart\u00adford, New Britain, Ver\u00adnon and Water\u00adbury. On April 29, the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion pro\u00advid\u00aded notice to UConn along with oth\u00ader grantees that the fund\u00ading now con\u00adflict\u00aded with the Trump Administration\u2019s pri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adties and would be ter\u00admi\u00adnat\u00aded on Decem\u00adber 31, 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Case_#**_0\"><strong>Case #:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/-\/media\/ag\/press_releases\/2025\/doe-mental-health-funding-complaint.pdf?rev=925cb34f5b81476eae3401c33df621fb&amp;hash=CB6F136EC5DABEEF30435AC9A7B89C6A\">2:25-cv-01228<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Case_title**_0\"><strong>Case title:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>State of Wash\u00ading\u00adton et al v. Unit\u00aded States Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion et al<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Date_of_filing**_0\"><strong>Date of filing:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>June 30, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Plaintiffs**_16_states_0\"><strong>Plaintiffs<\/strong>: 16 states<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>STATE OF WASHINGTON;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF CALIFORNIA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF COLORADO;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF CONNECTICUT;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF DELAWARE;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF ILLINOIS;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MAINE;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF MARYLAND;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NEW MEXICO;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NEW YORK;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF NEVADA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF OREGON;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF RHODE ISLAND;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STATE OF WISCONSIN<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Defendants**_0\"><strong>Defendants<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>LINDA MCMAHON, in Her Offi\u00adcial Capac\u00adi\u00adty as Unit\u00aded States Sec\u00adre\u00adtary of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Court**_0\"><strong>Court<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"**Status_as_of_Dec._1,_2025**_0\"><strong>Status as of Dec. 1, 2025:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>OPEN<br>Last fil\u00ading: Nov. 24, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n<nav class=\"is-vertical wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Lawsuit Index\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:800\">chrono\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal Index of law\u00adsuits <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container  is-vertical wp-block-navigation\"><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/birthright-citizenship\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Birthright Cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/lawsuit-federal-funding-freeze-to-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Fund\u00ading Freeze to States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/lawsuit-doges-access-to-treasury-systems\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014DOGE\u2019s Access to Trea\u00adsury Sys\u00adtems<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/nih-and-hhs-funding-for-medical-research\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014NIH and HHS Fund\u00ading for Med\u00adical Research<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/power-given-to-musk\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pow\u00ader Giv\u00aden to Musk<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/mass-firings-of-federal-probationary-employees\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Mass Fir\u00adings of Fed\u00ader\u00adal Pro\u00adba\u00adtion\u00adary Employ\u00adees<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-education-department\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Depart\u00adment<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/hhs-cuts-11-billion-in-public-health-grants-to-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014HHS Cuts $11 Bil\u00adlion in Pub\u00adlic Health Grants to States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/voting-rights-and-elections-restrictions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Vot\u00ading Rights and Elec\u00adtions Restric\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/attack-on-museums-libraries-workers\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Attack on Muse\u00adums, Libraries &amp; Work\u00aders<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/stopping-tariffs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Stop\u00adping Tar\u00adiffs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/k-12-funding-conditions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014K\u201112 Fund\u00ading Con\u00addi\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-of-americorps\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling of Ameri\u00adCorps<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/halting-wind-energy\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Halt\u00ading Wind Ener\u00adgy<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-hhs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Dis\u00adman\u00adtling HHS<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/big-oil-and-energy-emergency\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Big Oil and Ener\u00adgy Emer\u00adgency<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dhs-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Con\u00addi\u00adtions Placed on Fund\u00ading DHS<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/immigration-conditions-placed-on-dot-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Con\u00addi\u00adtions Placed on Fund\u00ading DOT<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/protecting-science-research-and-programs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pro\u00adtect\u00ading Sci\u00adence and Research Pro\u00adgrams<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/federal-funding-for-states\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Fund\u00ading for States<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/mental-health-funding-cuts-in-k-12\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Men\u00adtal Health Fund\u00ading Cuts in K\u201112<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/sharing-health-information-with-ice\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Shar\u00ading Health Infor\u00adma\u00adtion With ICE<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/the-freezing-of-6-8-billion-in-education-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Freez\u00ading of $6.8 Bil\u00adlion in Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/cutting-disaster-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Cut\u00adting Dis\u00adas\u00adter Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/1-8-million-people-losing-health-insurance\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u20141.8 Mil\u00adlion Peo\u00adple Los\u00ading Health Insur\u00adance<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/federal-restrictions-on-benefits\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Fed\u00ader\u00adal Restric\u00adtions on Ben\u00ade\u00adfits<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/usda-demands-snap-recipient-information\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014USDA Demands SNAP Recip\u00adi\u00adent Infor\u00adma\u00adtion<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/medicaid-funding-for-planned-parenthood\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Med\u00adic\u00adaid Fund\u00ading for Planned Par\u00adent\u00adhood<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/gender-affirming-care\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Gen\u00adder Affirm\u00ading Care<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/doe-funding-cap-for-state-energy-programs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014DOE Fund\u00ading Cap for State Ener\u00adgy Pro\u00adgrams<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/conditions-on-victims-of-crime-grants\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Con\u00addi\u00adtions on Vic\u00adtims of Crime Grants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/revolution-wind-stop-work-order\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Rev\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtion Wind Stop Work Order<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/conditions-on-sex-ed-funding\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Con\u00addi\u00adtions on Sex Ed Fund\u00ading<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/homeland-security-funding-cuts\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Home\u00adland Secu\u00adri\u00adty Fund\u00ading Cuts<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/second-lawsuit-against-doj-for-crime-survivors\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Sec\u00adond Law\u00adsuit Against DOJ for Crime Sur\u00advivors<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/suspending-snap-benefits\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Sus\u00adpend\u00ading SNAP Ben\u00ade\u00adfits<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/public-service-loan-forgiveness-restrictions\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Pub\u00adlic Ser\u00advice Loan For\u00adgive\u00adness Restric\u00adtions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/changes-in-hud-grants\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014Changes in HUD Grants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/snap-immigration-eligibility-changes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">\u2014SNAP Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Eli\u00adgi\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty Changes<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Press Release: Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Tong Sues Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion to Stop Men\u00adtal Health Fund\u00ading Cuts Pre\u00adced\u00ading Event: After a school shoot\u00ading in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 stu\u00addents and two teach\u00aders, Con\u00adgress appro\u00adpri\u00adat\u00aded $1 bil\u00adlion to per\u00adma\u00adnent\u00adly bring rough\u00adly 14,000 men\u00adtal health pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adals into K\u201112 schools. Accord\u00ading to the press release: \u201cAccord\u00ading to the Nation\u00adal [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lawsuits"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":334,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/uncertainty-roils-schools-as-trump-targets-k-12\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":0},"title":"Uncertainty roils schools as Trump targets K\u201112","author":"Bridget Bronsdon","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"It started almost right away. Within nine days of President Donald Trump\u2019s return to office, he set his sights on education.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1911,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/hhs-cuts-11-billion-in-public-health-grants-to-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":1},"title":"HHS Cuts $11 Billion in Public Health Grants to States","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues to Overturn Public Health Grant Cuts Preceding Event: On March 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began terminating $11 billion of health funding to states and state agencies. According to the lawsuit, the administration said the funding was no\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":524,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/federal-research-cuts-hit-uconn\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":2},"title":"Federal research cuts hit UConn&nbsp;","author":"Sara Bedigian","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sara Bedigian UConn Journalism Sign on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus. UConn has lost $95 million in federal funding over the past year. Photo by Sara Bedigian University of Connecticut\u00a0Professor\u00a0Jennifer\u00a0McGarry\u00a0has spent more than 20 years running a federally\u00a0funded program that provides nutrition and physical activity support to low-income\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2030,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/homeland-security-funding-cuts\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":3},"title":"Homeland Security Funding Cuts","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Emergency Lawsuit to Protect Critical Homeland Security Funding from Politically Motivated Cuts Preceding Event: On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed\u00a0Executive Order 14159, declaring that certain states and\/or jurisdictions were in \"lawless insurrection\" and directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny federal funding to so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":731,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/two-education-secretaries-from-ct-show-divide-over-schools\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":4},"title":"Two education secretaries from CT&nbsp;show&nbsp;divide&nbsp;over schools","author":"Bridget Bronsdon","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two Connecticut residents, two secretaries of education, two very different paths.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1925,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/k-12-funding-conditions\/","url_meta":{"origin":1994,"position":5},"title":"K\u201112 Funding Conditions","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Conditions on Funding for Schools Preceding Event: On April 3, 2025, the Department of Education\u00a0notified states and localities\u00a0that in order to continue receiving federal funding, they must comply with new policies from President Donald Trump's administration. These policies are based\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;lawsuits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-wa","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1994"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2077,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1994\/revisions\/2077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}