Maryland attorney general sues Education Department to stop school mental health grant cuts

July 12, 2026 - 08:02

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has taken legal action against the U.S. Department of Education, filing a lawsuit to block the termination of federally funded school mental health grants. The lawsuit, announced on Tuesday, argues that the department's decision to cut the grants violates federal law and will harm thousands of students across the state who rely on school-based mental health services.

The grants in question were awarded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a 2022 law aimed at expanding mental health support in schools. Brown contends that the Education Department lacks the authority to unilaterally end these programs, which have provided funding for counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals in Maryland schools. Without the grants, many districts would lose critical resources needed to address rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among students.

Brown's office stated that the cuts would disproportionately affect low-income and rural communities, where access to mental health care is already limited. The lawsuit seeks a court order to restore the funding and prevent the department from canceling similar grants in the future. A spokesperson for the Education Department declined to comment on the pending litigation. The case adds to ongoing legal battles over federal education funding, with several other states considering similar challenges.