Trump’s Virus Funding Boost for Private Schools Is Blocked
- Ruling by Seattle judge is blow to U.S. education chief DeVos
- July policy change diverted some funding from public schools
Betsy DeVos
Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg
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The Trump administration’s move to steer more pandemic relief money to private schools from a $13 billion education fund was blocked by a federal judge.
In a blow to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein in Seattle ruled Friday that changes to CARES Act emergency funding issued by the administration in early July illegally take money away from disadvantaged public schools to give to private schools with more resources and less need. DeVos has been a forceful advocate for private schools during her 3 1/2-year tenure.