The White House raised eyebrows earlier this month by withholding billions of dollars in education funding which  states and local schools had expected to receive on July 1.

However, the Trump administration moved to release the funds this past Friday following pressure from Republican lawmakers. 

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: Money needed to cover "critical programs"

According to Politico, the White House Office of Management and Budget has now dispersed all of the $7 billion which it had previously withheld.

That development won praise from West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

"The education formula funding included in the FY2025 Continuing Resolution Act supports critical programs that so many rely on," she was quoted as saying in a statement.

"The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support," the West Virginia lawmaker went on to maintain.

Sen. Jim Justice says money "will undoubtedly have a positive impact"

Release of the funds was met with celebration in a social media post from Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who called it "exciting news."

Exciting news to announce! All frozen education funding for the upcoming school year have been released, following my letter to the OMB! It helps centers like @KidsCanOmaha and our schools! pic.twitter.com/niMDbfgC9P

— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) July 25, 2025

West Virginia Republican Sen. Jim Justice spoke up in a social media statement on his own, saying, "The release of these funds will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the kids of West Virginia."

Justice went on to pledge that he will "continue to advocate with [Sen. Capito] for the best possible outcomes when problems like this arise!"

Capito led a group of GOP lawmakers in fighting for release of funds

Politico previously reported that Capito was one of a dozen Capitol Hill Republicans who sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.

"We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds," it read.

"These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies," the letter argued.

The correspondence further maintained that not providing the money would "harm students, families, and local economies."