Augusta — Maine is one of 16 states that filed suit Friday seeking to block the Biden administration’s successor from cutting a federal program that provides funding for mental health professionals in K-12 schools. The challenge centers on a $1 billion grant program Congress created after the 2022 Uvalde shooting to expand school-based mental and behavioral health services.
What the lawsuit says
Democratic attorneys general argue the U.S. Department of Education — under the Trump administration — has announced plans to end the program at the end of this month, contrary to a December 2025 court order, which they say would cost school districts millions in support for hiring and training mental health staff.
“Our children deal with a unique set of problems which arise from growing up in 2026 — from loneliness to substance use disorder to the ever-present fear of violence — and the programs funded through these grants are designed to help them cope and hopefully thrive,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
Program background and local reach
Congress created the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program after the Uvalde tragedy. Lawmakers appropriated $1 billion to increase the number of mental health professionals working in schools. Within a year of the program starting, the grants supported mental and behavioral health services for nearly 775,000 students nationwide and were operating in 49 states.
In April 2025, education officials informed grantees that their funding would be halted, citing conflicts between the grants and administration priorities. That decision affected programs preparing thousands of mental health professionals to work in K-12 settings.
Why it matters for Maine communities
School-based mental health staff provide counseling, crisis intervention, and connections to community services. State leaders and school officials in Maine have in recent years highlighted rising student needs, including anxiety, depression and substance use concerns. If the grants are terminated, districts that relied on this federal support could face personnel reductions or cuts to services.
- Program amount: $1 billion authorized by Congress.
- Students served: Nearly 775,000 within the first year of funding.
- Geographic reach: Grantees operating in 49 states.
| Year | Noted statistic |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Program created after Uvalde shooting |
| Within 1 year | ~775,000 students reached |
| April 2025 | Department notified grantees funding would halt |
The lawsuit frames the dispute as one of federal lawfulness and the practical consequences for schools that have integrated grant-supported staff into student supports. For Maine school districts that used the grants to hire counselors, social workers and behavioral health specialists, the case could determine whether those positions remain funded.
As the litigation proceeds, school administrators and families in Maine will be watching closely for any court decisions or federal guidance that clarify the availability of funds for the coming school year.
