A December 19, 2025 federal judge ruling ordered the permanent reinstatement of U.S. Department of Education (USDE) mental health grants in 16 states. According to the ruling in State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Education, the April 2025 cancellation of the school-based and professional development funding was unlawful. At that time, the USDE discontinued already approved funding for the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program that had been approved in fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024, saying they conflicted with Trump administration’s priorities.
The order came a week after the USDE awarded $208 million in new mental health grants under revised priorities set by the Trump administration that prohibit recipients from “promoting or endorsing gender ideology, political activism, racial stereotyping, or hostile environments for students of particular races.” The order required the USDE to reinstate the grants in 16 states and barred the agency from issuing new priorities for the programs.
The original multi-year grant program first became available in 2018 to help schools address a worsening youth mental health crisis and increased school violence. The funding brought more mental health professionals into schools and improved school climates.
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