So, like, the Trump administration is ditching those Biden-era grants worth $1 billion that were supposed to help out mental health services in schools. A spokesperson from the Department of Education spilled the tea to ABC News, saying that the grants were meant to beef up mental health pros in schools and on campuses. But, surprise surprise, they claim that the Biden peeps used the money for stuff like recruiting quotas based on race, which apparently has nothing to do with mental health. Sounds like a hot mess, right?
The decision to scrap the grants is part of Trump’s big plan to ax diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools. But TBH, courts have been blocking his moves left and right, so who really knows what’s going on. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was all about it during a cabinet meeting, but critics like Conservative activist Christopher Rufo are cheering on the decision. He’s accusing the Biden crew of pushing “left-wing racialism and discrimination.” Drama, drama, drama.
On the flip side, the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is not having it. She’s calling this move a “direct attack” on kids’ safety and well-being. She’s saying that Congress put in work to secure that $1 billion for mental health grants, and now it’s all going down the drain. The president and his squad keep preaching about how mental health is the key to solving the gun violence crisis, but now it seems like they’re backtracking.
These grants were all part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was aimed at tackling gun violence after a school shooting in Texas back in 2022. The act was supposed to pump money into mental health services in schools over five years. But now, it’s all up in smoke. What a rollercoaster of emotions.
ABC News previously reported on the Biden administration’s efforts to beef up mental health services in schools, especially with all the chaos from the pandemic. The goal was to double the number of mental health pros in schools, including social workers and counselors. But now, it looks like all that work is going down the drain.
Dr. Tish Brookins, a social worker from Kentucky, is not holding back. She’s saying that cutting these grants is going to be a disaster for students all across the country. She’s worried that without the extra support, students will miss out on crucial help, leading to more trauma and dashed futures. She’s pleading for people to understand that mental health support in schools is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
At the end of the day, the decision to scrap these grants is causing a lot of drama and confusion. It’s like one step forward, two steps back. Not really sure why this matters, but hey, it’s the news. And that’s a wrap, folks. Let’s see what happens next in this wild ride.
