California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s Department of Education. The legal action involves a coalition of 16 states challenging the department’s decision to discontinue grants from school mental health funding programs. This move could potentially affect approximately $200 million allocated to California’s local education agencies, county offices of education, and universities.
Bonta expressed concern over the discontinuation, stating: “The Trump Administration’s Department of Education is attempting to rip away funding and projects that support the mental health and well-being of our students – it’s not only immoral, it’s unlawful.” He emphasized that these programs were established following tragic school shootings and play a crucial role in supporting student success.
The Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) and School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH) were set up by Congress in 2018 and 2020, respectively. They aim to address shortages in school-based mental health services by providing multi-year grants for hiring counselors, social workers, and psychologists. These programs have reportedly provided services to nearly 775,000 students nationwide in their first year.
In California alone, around $200 million is at stake. This funding has enabled schools to hire hundreds of mental health professionals who have supported thousands of students across economically disadvantaged and rural areas. However, on April 29, 2025, grantees received notices indicating their grants conflicted with new administration priorities focused on “merit, fairness, and excellence in education.”
The lawsuit claims this decision violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s Spending Clause and Separation of Powers doctrine. It argues that discontinuing these funds would force states to lay off mental health service providers and cut off essential services to low-income schools.
Joining Bonta in this legal challenge are attorneys general from Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
