Dem Bill Seeks to Prevent Tying Federal Funds to Reopening – Inside Higher Ed
Though the focus is on the Trump administration’s threats to cut off funding to K-12 schools that choose not to reopen this fall, a spokeswoman for Senator Mark Warner said a bill being introduced by the Democrat from Virginia would also make it “crystal clear” funding cannot be taken away from higher education institutions that do not resume in-person classes.
“Decisions about school openings should be made by local health officials, parents and teachers — not Betsy DeVos or Donald Trump,” Warner tweeted last week. “I’ll be introducing a bill to make it crystal clear that they don’t have the authority to cut off funding for local schools during COVID-19.”
President Trump two weeks ago threatened to withhold federal funding to local school districts that do not reopen. At a news briefing with Trump and Republican congressional leaders, Vice President Mike Pence said, “We will continue to advance policies that will make it possible for us to reopen America again, and open up America’s schools.”