California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a multistate coalition, has filed a motion for preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of Education. The motion aims to prevent the discontinuation of grants awarded through school mental health funding programs, including approximately $200 million allocated to various educational institutions in California.
Attorney General Bonta criticized the Trump Administration’s decision, stating: “The Trump Administration’s Department of Education should be focused on supporting the success and education of our students, but instead they are using flimsy and unlawful excuses to rip funding from projects that support the mental health and well-being of our students.” He emphasized the potential harm to California students, particularly those in low-income and rural areas.
On June 30, Bonta joined 16 other states in suing the Department over its decision to discontinue these grants. The lawsuit argues that this action could deprive many schools of essential mental health services starting this fall. These funds were initially provided under programs designed to support high-need schools across the nation.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. It seeks both injunctive and declaratory relief to maintain this critical funding for student well-being.
In April 2025, grantees received notices from the Department indicating their grants would not continue due to perceived conflicts with new priorities centered on “merit, fairness, and excellence in education.” However, it was revealed that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts influenced this decision. The attorneys general argue that such reasoning is legally unfounded and violates several constitutional principles.
A copy of the motion for preliminary injunction is available online.
