MADISON, WI — On Friday evening, the Trump administration made yet another stealth move—quietly eliminating $645,000 in federal education funding for Wisconsin in a last-minute rule change that took effect three minutes before it was even announced.
At 5:03 p.m. EST on March 28, Trump’s Education Department retroactively changed the liquidation deadline for COVID relief funds to 5:00 p.m., immediately wiping out:
- $150,000 in ARP ESSER funds being used by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for federal monitoring and compliance
- $495,000 in ARP-Homeless Children and Youth (HCY) funds, nearly all of which supported a contract with the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to provide wraparound services to children experiencing homelessness
ARP ESSER (American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds were created by Congress to help schools recover from the pandemic—funding critical needs like learning recovery, technology access, mental health services, and compliance with federal oversight. This latest cut wipes out resources that had already been committed to support students and ensure transparency.
This loss is only the latest in a growing list of education-related cuts under the Trump administration that have directly hit Wisconsin children, families, schools, farmers, and libraries.
Since January, Trump has already:
- Cut $273.6 million from school meal programs in Wisconsin—funds used to provide free and reduced-price lunches for students
- Slashed funding to teacher training, special education, mental health programs, and English learner supports in school districts statewide
- Eliminated $4.3 million in support for rural libraries in Wisconsin, cutting off community hubs that provide internet access, early literacy programs, and GED support in small towns across the state
- Blocked $2 million in Wisconsin grants to universities and school districts conducting federal education research
- Cut $1.1 million from Wisconsin’s Farm to School program, which helps family farmers sell fresh food directly to local school cafeterias
- Threatened over $1 billion more in funding to Wisconsin schools
All of these cuts have already happened. And Brittany Kinser has refused to oppose a single one of them.
Instead, she continues to say she’s “fine” with dismantling the U.S. Department of Education—as long as the money keeps flowing. But the money isn’t flowing—it’s disappearing. And Kinser is doing nothing to stop it.
“These aren’t theoretical cuts—these are real, targeted cuts that are already hurting Wisconsin’s most vulnerable kids,” said Jorna Taylor, campaign manager for Underly for Wisconsin. “And the candidate who wants to lead our schools won’t even say a word.”
Kinser has taken $1.65 million from the Republican Party of Wisconsin, refuses to criticize Trump or his education agenda, and recently said she’d “love” to campaign with Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon—the person leading this dismantling effort.
“Jill Underly is fighting to protect Wisconsin’s students, libraries, farmers, and families,” Taylor said. “Brittany Kinser is protecting her donors—no matter the cost to our kids and schools.”
