The Maryland attorney general and a coalition of 14 other state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop the U.S. Department of Education from ending federally approved school mental health grants, saying the move would imperil counseling services and training programs supported by those awards.
What the lawsuit says
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and the coalition contend the department is unlawfully attempting to terminate grants that Congress approved to expand mental health services in schools. The states say the department informed them in April 2025 that the grants would be stopped because they were inconsistent with the priorities of the current administration.
“Once again, the U.S. Department of Education is trying to eliminate grants that Maryland schools rely on to provide critical mental health and counseling services for our children,” the attorney general said in a statement.
State concerns and local impact
State officials warn the cuts would put programs at institutions such as Bowie State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore at risk — programs that train future school counselors and mental health professionals. In Maryland alone, officials estimate the planned cuts could remove more than $3 million in federal support for schools and universities.
- The coalition filed its initial complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2025.
- That court issued an order in December 2025 finding the attempted cuts unlawful and entered a permanent injunction preventing the department from carrying them out.
- The current filing seeks a court directive to block any termination of the grants while the legal challenge proceeds.
Legal and political context
According to the states’ statement, the department has suggested many of the grants should continue but has nonetheless pursued actions to hinder and eliminate them, in part because of concerns the programs were associated with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The lawsuit frames the department’s conduct as an effort to advance administration priorities by removing congressionally authorized funding streams.
| Key date | Action |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | States informed grants would be stopped |
| July 2025 | Lawsuit filed in Western District of Washington |
| December 2025 | Court found cuts unlawful and issued permanent injunction |
The dispute underscores questions about federal administrative authority to modify or end grant programs Congress has funded, and it highlights growing tensions between state officials and the Education Department over policy priorities tied to school programming. For parents and school leaders, the outcome will determine whether established counseling services and training pipelines continue to receive federal support.
The coalition is asking the court to keep the grants in place while the litigation moves forward, aiming to preserve funding streams that officials say are essential for student mental health services and the training of future counselors.
