色多多

The administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump鈥檚 priorities.

The move leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when 鈥� or if 鈥� they will receive the money. It also sets the stage for a clash with Democrats, who say the administration is flouting the law by holding back money Congress appropriated.

The absence of these funds could potentially have a severe impact on the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, CEO Rebekah Meadows said. The organization receives more than $1 million annually through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to support eight of its nine club locations. At each of those eight locations, students get to participate in after-school and summer programming, and sometimes before school programming, without any fees.

鈥淥ur goal is always to provide a safe, supportive place for kids to be, but also to provide academic support and social emotional learning opportunities, as well as just other enrichment opportunities for our kids,鈥� Meadows said.

The 21 CCLG program is one of six programs under review, and is the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs that supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the Afterschool Alliance. Every state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year.

This was already on the radar for staff of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, as they noticed that 21st CCLG funding was not included in Trump鈥檚 proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. They were expecting these changes to impact programming for the next budget cycle, Meadows said. But on Tuesday, when they learned about the decision to withhold previously approved funding, set to be released to states on Tuesday, they felt blindsided, she said.

鈥淲e were watching for next year, about a year out,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his very abrupt news was unexpected across the country, and that really moves that timeline up.鈥�

The Boys and Girls Club is not the only organization to be caught off guard by the news. In a statement to The 色多多 on Wednesday, 色多多 City Public Schools spokesperson Claire Mitzel said that the school division鈥檚 budget development process is an 鈥渋ntentional, year-round effort guided by projected revenues at the local, state, and federal levels.鈥� The division鈥檚 budget, which took effect Tuesday, is created with the understanding that the division will receive specific amounts of federal funding, she said.

鈥淎pproximately $3.5 million in expected federal funds (based on 24-25 funding levels) are currently being withheld. These funds support programs such as afterschool programming through 21st Century Community Learning Centers, services for students who are English Learners, professional development for teachers and staff, and academic enrichment programs,鈥� she said.

Division leaders continue to closely monitor the situation, she said.

Across the eight Boys and Girls Clubs in Southwest Virginia supported by this funding, 640 students and their families could be impacted by this change. The program supports parents by offering free child care and allowing them to go to work, Meadows said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 very few options for free child care or out-of-school time programs,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o the impact, I think, really extends much past the families we鈥檙e serving, but into the broader community.鈥�

While there鈥檚 still very little information available, the organization could start feeling the effects of this as soon as August, Meadows said. The impact goes further than just the region or even the Commonwealth 鈥� there are 926 Boys and Girls Clubs across the country, serving 220,000 children. The nonprofit serves 23,000 students in Virginia.

She can鈥檛 recall a time in her almost 14 years with the organization that the federal funding situation has been so worrisome. During Trump鈥檚 first term, he didn鈥檛 include the 21st CCLG funding in his proposed budgets, either, but Congress included it each year, she said.

鈥淭here were some concerns then, but that was not as alarming as this is,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 become very, very short notice, and there鈥檚 kind of more levels to it now. This is escalating our level of concern for sure.鈥�

Parents, like staff, were already concerned about federal funding before the withholding was announced, Meadows said. Parents and students have been writing letters to their representatives, asking them to advocate for the federal dollars that support these types of programs.

鈥淲e hate that that is something they have to think about,鈥� Meadows said, referring to the students. 鈥淭heir club is a safe place for them to be. The thought of a child being worried about that going away is pretty upsetting.鈥�

Community support right now is huge for organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, Meadows said. As a nonprofit, donations are always helpful, but advocacy is another key part of the support they need right now, she said.

鈥淩eaching out to our federal level legislators, and even state level so that they can help speak on our behalf also 鈥� that will make all the difference right now,鈥� she said.

Staff writer Luke Weir and The Associated Press contributed to this report.