More than $17 million in federal funding for adult education and workforce programming is being paused at North Carolina's community colleges, pending a Trump administration review of how the funds are being spent across the country.
A freeze and review are also underway for $169 million for several North Carolina K-12 education programs, including for teacher training, before- and after-school programming and services for English language learners.
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North Carolina Community Colleges confirmed to WRAL News that more than $17 million, due July 1, was on hold for programs designed largely to educate adults on basic literacy skills and help them enter the workforce. The funding came under the federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, part of Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
The programs affected in North Carolina serve more than 60,000 adults without high school diplomas or equivalency degrees, people with disabilities and immigrants who are learning English. The $17 million paused represents about 35% of the program's funding.
In an email to WRAL News, the White House's Office of Management and Budget repeated the same concerns it cited in pausing the K-12 grant funds, which totaled more than $6 billion nationwide. The office did not cite any North Carolina examples in response to WRAL questions about whether the office had specific concerns in North Carolina.
"This is an ongoing programmatic review of education funding," the office's statement says. "Initial findings show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda" that helps unauthorized immigrant students, among other things.
In a statement to WRAL News, North Carolina Community Colleges said officials are working with federal partners to resolve the issue.
"This funding supports tens of thousands of North Carolinians who are working to improve their skills, earn credentials, and enter the workforce," the statement says. "Our colleges play a critical role in that effort. The unexpected hold on these funds is concerning, and we’re working closely with our federal partners to understand the situation and advocate for a prompt resolution."