AG calls across party lines to oppose federal K-12 funding freeze on heels of latest suit

SANTA FE — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez called for bipartisan upheaval over unreleased funds on the heels of his latest lawsuit against the Trump administration, this one over nearly $7 billion in federal funding frozen nationwide for an array of public school programs.

“I have a D next to my name, and because I have a D next to my name, there are certain folks who are going to say, ‘Well, I’m not going to listen to that,’” Torrez said at a news conference Wednesday. “What I need are people who supported the president, who voted for the president, who do not agree with this, to say, ‘This matters to us; this isn’t what we voted for.’”

Among the programs that could be affected by potential cuts are after-school programs, English language learner programs, immigrant support programs and professional development programs for public school staff.

The state’s Public Education Department estimates that the funding freeze will have an impact of around $40 million, and Torrez’s office forecasts around $45 million, according to respective news releases. The latest lawsuit marks the 21st the AG has joined since Trump took office in January.

“My goal is to do everything I can to protect the families and the working folks in this state, regardless of their party,” Torrez said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s only the Democratic attorneys general who are filing some of these actions, but it’s natural, I think, for people to look through this through a partisan lens.”

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Journal. Additionally, President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon have not commented publicly on the funding freeze, according to Education Week.

“The Republican Party of New Mexico stands with President Trump in his effort to end reckless federal spending that prioritizes radical agendas over the real needs of American children,” Amy Barela, chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said in a statement Wednesday. “This lawsuit from the AG is more about political theater than protecting our kids. The RPNM will always support policies that return power to parents, cut wasteful spending, and focus our limited resources where they belong — on our children’s success, not on federal mandates that dilute accountability and outcomes.”

The New Mexico AG joined the lawsuit over the unreleased funding on Monday, along with over 20 other Democratic-led states that also filed suit. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, and Torrez, along with the other AGs, will be seeking a preliminary injunction in the short term, hoping that the funding will be available as the litigation process unfolds.

Like many school districts around the country, Santa Fe Public Schools received a day’s notice that federal funding would be withheld, according to Peter McWain, executive director of Curriculum and Instruction for the district.

“Districts had no preliminary notification of this funding freeze; there is negligible time to mitigate the impact to families, to employees and our children,” McWain said, joining the AG for his news conference. “The effects of this funding freeze will impact the core of our community.”

SFPS predicts it will lose out on nearly $2 million as a result of the frozen federal funds.