California has joined seven other Democrat-led states in suing the Trump administration over cuts to teacher training programs. These cuts, which total hundreds of millions of dollars, were aimed at teacher programs that help increase educators in areas with a critical need, such as STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) and for students with disabilities or those learning English.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal district court in Massachusetts, specifically targets two Obama-era grants created to address teacher shortages in rural and urban schools. The grants were also designed to encourage college students studying STEM fields to consider teaching careers in K-12 education.
California alone faced cuts of about $148 million, with the other states involved in the lawsuit—Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado—losing $102 million collectively. Nationally, the total loss amounts to $600 million, with no Republican-led states filing suits. Additionally, three teacher organizations have filed a separate complaint in Maryland’s federal court.
In Southern California, nearly 600 college students are currently enrolled in teacher training programs under the grants, and many were set to be placed in high-need school districts. A.Dee Williams, a professor at Cal State L.A. and head of the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program, called the cuts a betrayal of students, teachers, and communities. A spokesperson for the Department of Education declined to comment on the litigation, as it is still ongoing.
When the cuts were announced on February 17, the Department of Education claimed that taxpayer funds were being used to train teachers and educational agencies on “divisive ideologies” like critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The department argued that these subjects were unnecessary and inappropriate. President Trump has been vocal about wanting to eliminate “wokeness” from schools and universities, promising to use federal funding to stop what he calls radical ideologies in the educational system.
The lawsuit argues that the cancellation of the teacher training grants has caused “immediate and irreparable harm.” The states claim that it will disrupt the pipeline of teachers entering the workforce, increase reliance on underqualified educators, and destabilize school systems. If the cuts are not blocked, universities like the University of California and California State University, which are key sources of new teachers, would lose most of their $56 million in grants. Additionally, $92 million allocated to private universities and nonprofit groups would also be at risk.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who announced the state’s lawsuit, warned that without these programs, rural and urban schools would be forced to hire long-term substitutes, teachers with emergency credentials, or unlicensed teachers.
This would lower the quality of education and cause many students to fall behind. Bonta also argued that the Trump administration’s actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which regulates how executive branch agencies make rules, bypassing Congress, which controls the federal budget.
The lawsuit points out that many of the programs—some of which aim to increase diversity in teaching—were approved during the first Trump administration. Bonta disputed the Department of Education’s claims about DEI, accusing the Trump administration of using “buzzwords” to distract from the real issue of cutting funding for critical education programs.
The cuts were part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending under President Trump’s administration. Trump has tasked Elon Musk with running the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), an entity not officially recognized as a federal agency, which has recommended large cuts to programs related to LGBTQ+ issues and diversity.
Among the canceled programs was a $7.5 million grant at Cal State L.A., which aimed to train 276 teachers over five years to work in high-need schools in the Los Angeles Unified and Pasadena Unified school districts. The program focused on STEM education, bilingual education, and working with disabled students. Another cancelled program at UCLA would have trained over 300 middle school principals and teachers in subjects like math, English, and science, serving about 15,000 students in Los Angeles County.
Bonta emphasized the harm caused by these cuts, stating that they would hinder the entry of passionate and qualified teachers into classrooms. He argued that such cuts would deprive students of essential educational support and hurt their futures.
According to the Learning Policy Institute, there is already a teacher shortage in the U.S., with approximately 400,000 teaching positions unfilled. This shortage is especially acute in California, where low pay and long hours make the profession less attractive. Schools in poorer and rural areas have struggled the most to attract and retain qualified teachers.
Shireen Pavri, the assistant vice chancellor for Educator and Leadership Programs at CSU, expressed her disappointment over the cuts, noting the negative impact on both the academic and financial support for students currently enrolled in the programs. At Cal State L.A., professor A. Dee Williams works closely with students in the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program. The program trains future teachers who focus on STEM subjects and places them in schools with experienced mentors. Williams believes these students are well-prepared to succeed in the classroom.
Jonathan Sze, a student at Cal State L.A. training to become a teacher, said the Trump administration’s decision would likely prevent future teachers like him from entering the profession. Sze had initially planned to become a pharmacist but switched to teaching. He believes the teacher training programs, which have helped fund his education, are crucial for the future of education and need to continue supporting the next generation of teachers.
Disclaimer: This article has been meticulously fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy and uphold transparency. We strive to deliver trustworthy and dependable content to our readers.
