Dallas ISD Faces $22M Shortfall After Federal Education Funds Frozen

Dallas public schools are facing a $22 million funding gap following the Trump administration’s decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal education aid, district officials announced this week.

The freeze—part of a broader effort to withhold more than $6 billion in federal grants nationwide—threatens crucial programs, including after-school care, English language instruction, and adult literacy, according to the administration’s guidance. In Dallas, the impact is immediate: about 150 staff positions are tied to the missing funds, Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said Tuesday during a meeting with The Dallas Morning News editorial board.

Despite the significant shortfall, Elizalde emphasized that the district is not currently experiencing an immediate crisis.

“Right in this moment, we’re going to be OK,” she said, noting that DISD plans to use money from its general operating budget to cover the shortfall, at least temporarily. “But what happens over time? What happens if more [federal] dollars don’t come that were already allocated but aren’t being distributed? That becomes more of my issue.”

The decision by the Trump administration, made earlier this month, has drawn criticism from education advocates and district leaders across the country who warn that low-income and multilingual communities will be disproportionately affected.

Elizalde stated that the federal funds were vital for maintaining equitable access to education in Dallas, a district with more than 140,000 students, many of whom rely on the services now in jeopardy.

The frozen grants specifically include support for Title I services, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, after-school enrichment, and adult education. These programs are often the first line of support for the district’s most underserved students.

Although the district intends to protect the affected staff roles for now, Elizalde warned that this kind of stopgap measure is not sustainable in the long run.

“This isn’t about next week or even next month,” she said. “This is about the long-term erosion of the supports that our students need and deserve.”

Elizalde also emphasized that while Dallas might be able to withstand the immediate impact, smaller or less resourced districts might experience far more severe consequences. “If this is what we’re facing in a district as large as Dallas, I can only imagine the impact on rural or less-resourced communities.”

As of now, no timeline has been announced for when—or if—the frozen funds will be released. DISD officials say they will continue to advocate for the distribution of already-allocated grants and are urging local and state leaders to press for clarity from Washington.

For many educators and families, the uncertainty is unsettling. “We can plan around a cut,” one district staffer said. “But we can’t plan around a freeze that has no end in sight.”

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