Three Alaska school districts—Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, and Kuspuk—have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over a $6 billion education funding freeze. The Districts are all losing vital resources.
On Monday, these districts joined others nationwide to sue the US Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget. The lawsuit in Rhode Island aims to force the agencies to release frozen federal funds supporting vulnerable student groups.
Programs affected include services for migratory students, English learners, foster children, and homeless youth in Alaska’s education system. The Anchorage School District, which serves 43,000 students, reportedly lost access to nearly $12 million in essential federal education funding.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District lost $2.5 million, while the Kuspuk District lost $180,000 for its remote schools. Anchorage Superintendent Jharrett Bryant called the freeze destabilizing, saying it affects responsible planning and undermines community commitments.
Bryant urged families to oppose funding cuts by the Trump administration and Governor Mike Dunleavy’s state-level vetoes. Fairbanks Superintendent Luke Meinert described the freeze as lawless and a bureaucratic attack on Alaska’s most vulnerable students.
Kuspuk Superintendent Madeline Aguillard called it sabotage. The Anchorage district expected millions for migrant support, teacher training, and enrichment funds, but they are now out of reach. The lawsuit argues that freezing promised funds mid-year left schools unable to pay staff or deliver essential services.
