Representative Tran Defends Public Education, Demands Release of Critical Funding for California Schools
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45), alongside Representatives Norma Torres (CA-35), Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation (CA-18), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), led the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation in a letter calling for the U.S. Department of Education to release nearly $7 billion in Congressionally-appropriated funding for K-12 schools and adult education—including $928 million owed to California.
Representative Tran has received reports from school administrators that frozen funding has already impacted school districts across LA and Orange Counties. Brea Olinda Unified School District has already seen a funding loss of over $200,000 from this freeze, while Garden Grove School District has had $800,000 in funding withheld.
Read the full text of the letter HERE.
With the start of the new school year approaching in California, on June 30, 2025, the Trump Administration gave states just one day’s notice that these critical funds would be indefinitely frozen past their typical release on July 1. As a result, California schools are already being forced to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut services that help students thrive.
The withheld funding includes vital investments in:
Reducing class sizes and teacher recruitment and retention, especially in underserved areas.
After-school, before-school, and summer learning programs in low-income communities.
School-based mental health services, accelerated learning courses, STEM education, and college and career counseling.
Academic Support for English learners and children of migrant workers.
Adult education and workforce readiness programs.
With nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in California, the illegal freezing of these Congressionally appropriated funds is already hurting our schools and students. Many school districts had already budgeted for these federal dollars, leaving them scrambling to fill massive funding gaps just weeks before the school year begins.
“There are nearly 6 million children in California public schools, including my own kids, who will be directly impacted by this reckless move to withhold Congressionally approved funding from our classrooms. Class sizes will increase, enrichment and ESL programs will be cut, and on-campus counseling services will be gutted. This will leave our kids with fewer resources and fewer opportunities to grow and thrive,” said Representative Tran. “Congress already authorized this funding to California’s public schools because it is vital to ensuring that our students and educators have the resources they need to succeed. The Trump Administration must reverse course on this unlawful action because our children, families, and teachers deserve better.”
In the letter, the Members wrote, “This freeze leaves our communities scrambling and is already forcing schools in California and across America to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut services for our students…Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets.”
Representative Tran remains committed to investing in and supporting public education. On July 9, 2025, Tran joined his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging the release of already-approved education funding, which bolsters efficacy and enhances student support services in public education. He is also a cosponsor of H.R.433, the Department of Education Protection Act, to prevent the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. Representative Tran voted against the Republican-led budget reconciliation package that slashes funding for Pell Grants and creates barriers to eligibility for Pell benefits.
Congressman Derek Tran represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.