Trump Administration Slashes Louisiana Afterschool Funding, Puts Children and Families at Risk
The cuts strike directly at the backbone of working-class communities, especially in Black and rural parishes, where after-school programs are not a luxury, but a necessity.
ALEXANDRIA, La. — Thousands of Louisiana families were blindsided this week as the Trump administration abruptly froze more than $6 billion in federal education support, including critical funding for afterschool programs, teacher training, and services for English learners. The decision, buried in a Department of Education memo with no public input or community warning, has sparked outrage across the state.
This move isn’t about budgeting—it’s about betrayal.
A Direct Attack on Working Families
The cuts strike directly at the backbone of working-class communities, especially in Black and rural parishes, where after-school programs are not a luxury, but a necessity. “They say it’s about cutting waste. These programs are not waste—they’re lifelines,” said Tanya Green, a single mother of two from Alexandria. “My kids get their homework done, they get fed, and I can finish my shift knowing they’re safe.”
Educators, parents, and advocates alike say the Trump administration’s freeze demonstrates a dangerous disregard for the realities facing everyday families. Many districts already stretched thin are now being forced to weigh devastating decisions: reduce hours, lay off staff, or close programs altogether.
Classrooms in Crisis
For Louisiana schools—many of which are still recovering from pandemic-era disruptions—the timing couldn’t be more destructive. "We’ve spent years building community trust, offering wraparound services that help students stay in school and out of trouble,” said Rhonda Toussaint, a veteran educator in East Baton Rouge Parish. “This decision unravels that work overnight.”
Programs on the chopping block include academic support for English language learners, trauma-informed care for students, and teacher development initiatives—resources essential for student success in high-need areas.
No Transparency, No Warning, No Plan
There was no consultation with school leaders, no conversation with parents—only a memo. Many districts only learned of the freeze through media reports. "We weren’t even given time to prepare,” said one district official who asked to remain unnamed. “It’s a deliberate and reckless move that shows how little this administration values public education."
Community organizations, already stretched to capacity, are now being asked to fill a gap created at the federal level. Private donations and local grants may offer some short-term relief, but most districts say the scale of the cuts is too large to absorb without serious harm to students.
A Pattern of Disregard
Critics say this is just the latest example of the Trump administration’s hostility toward public education and disregard for marginalized communities. “Let’s be honest,” said Rev. Leonard Paul, a community leader in Rapides Parish. “When they say they’re cutting ‘non-essential’ services, they mean Black, brown, and poor children.”
With fall rapidly approaching, Louisiana schools are racing against time to protect students from the fallout. Parents, clergy, educators, and advocates are calling on Congress to reverse the freeze and restore funding before the damage becomes irreversible.
Until then, the children of Louisiana are left waiting—for leadership, for justice, and for the basic support they’ve now been denied.
