Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, alongside a coalition of 15 attorneys general, has secured a second preliminary injunction to prevent the U.S. Department of Education from rescinding an extended deadline for using pandemic relief education funds. These funds were originally appropriated by Congress for states and local school districts.

The legal action against the Department of Education (DOE) and Secretary Linda McMahon was initiated following an abrupt decision on March 28, 2025, which sought to shorten the deadline for reimbursement requests tied to Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations and American Rescue Plan funds. The coalition first obtained a preliminary injunction on May 6, 2025, halting this decision.

Despite the initial injunction, the DOE attempted once more on May 11, 2025, to reduce the deadline for spending these funds. In response, Attorney General Nessel and her coalition filed for a second injunction on May 14, 2025. The court granted this request, reinstating deadlines until March of 2026. This move ensures that approximately $25 million in education stabilization funds remain accessible to Michigan's educational bodies.

Attorney General Nessel expressed gratitude toward the court's decision: “I am thankful to the Court for yet again protecting funding for local school districts across Michigan.” She further emphasized the importance of these funds in maintaining safe and operational classrooms: “With this second injunction, we implore the Department of Education to put students first and stop its illegal efforts to restrict access to these vital funds.”

The coalition supporting Attorney General Nessel includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon as well as support from Pennsylvania's governor.