Court Upholds Grants for School Mental Health Workers Against Trump Appeal | AI News Digest
A federal appeals court has rejected the Trump administration's bid to halt the distribution of grants designed to boost the number of mental health professionals in schools. These funds, created by Congress in response to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, aim to facilitate the hiring of counselors, psychologists, and social workers, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Trump administration had previously voiced concerns over the grant program, arguing that it promoted divisive racial ideologies. However, U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson deemed the administration's attempts to cancel the grants as arbitrary. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld her decision, stating that the government could not substantiate its claims regarding the district court's jurisdiction. The grants, awarded during President Biden's tenure, prioritize applicants who seek to improve diversity within mental health staffing.
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