A key member of President Donald Trump's administration is under fire over withholding Congressionally-approved education funds, according to a new report.
Ten Republican Senators sent a stern letter to Russell Vought, who leads the Office of Management and Budget, asking him to return the funds that were supposed to be distributed as of July 1. In total, OMB is withholding $7 billion in funding from K-12 programs like extracurricular activities and English classes for non-native speakers, AlterNet reported.
"Withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies," the letter reads in part.
The Trump administration has continuously sought to withhold funding from organizations that do not align with its policy goals. For instance, the administration has sought to place new restrictions on federal grant funding for nonprofits and attempted to withhold money for universities like Harvard because of its campus anti-semitism policies.
Multiple courts have ruled that these efforts are illegal and forced the administration to distribute the approved funding.
The 10 Senators who signed the letter include Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Boozman (R-AR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Michael Rounds (R-SD), and John Hoeven (R-ND).
"The decision to withhold this funding is directly contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states," the letter continues. "This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families."