In a collective pushback against the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) efforts to restrict the use of pandemic relief funds, Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel, backed by a group of 15 other attorneys general, has landed a second preliminary injunction. This legal move blocks the Education Department from cutting the deadline for schools to spend federal relief funds, offering them respite until March 2026 to use the appropriations for educational stability.
Michigan was joined in the lawsuit by attorneys general from a swath of states including Arizona, California, and New York. The legal action came on the heels of the DOE's March 28 attempt to abruptly shorten the deadline, effectively the same day they communicated the change. Despite the first injunction on May 6, that barred DOE from enforcing the new deadline, the department again tried to enact it on May 11, according to information from a Michigan Department of Attorney General's press release.
The second injunction, sought on May 14 and subsequently granted, reinstates previous time boundaries, ensuring that local educational agencies can tap into the remaining $25 million of allocated funds for necessary projects like school safety and continuity of learning initiatives. This decision comes as a significant win for educators and students in Michigan who rely on these monies to support the educational process deeply impacted by public health concerns.
"I am thankful to the Court for yet again protecting funding for local school districts across Michigan," Nessel commented, underscoring the necessity of these funds for the advancement of vital district projects. Her sentiment reflects a broader advocacy for educational resources to be made accessible without undue federal limitation, as per the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
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