The Trump administration withheld nearly $7 billion in scheduled funding for schools Tuesday, instead notifying state education agencies the night before its July 1 deadline that the money was unavailable and under review. The funding supports after-school, English-language learning, adult education and other programs, meaning its loss would have a seismic impact on students across the country, including families who rely on before- and after-school programming. The money was approved by Congress in March’s federal spending bill and signed into law by President Donald Trump.

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Education advocates, Democratic lawmakers and school districts were alarmed by the delay, weeks before the next academic year is scheduled to begin. Affected parties are likely to take legal action against the Trump administration within the next week, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to speak about sensitive discussions.

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The notice from the Education Department provided little reasoning for the delay, saying the funds were being reviewed “given the change in Administrations.” It said the Trump administration had not yet made decisions concerning funding for the upcoming school year, according to a copy reviewed by The Washington Post.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities,” the notice said.

The Education Department referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.

The OMB is led by Russell Vought, a key figure in the administration who has pushed for Trump to assert executive power over spending. The administration has been preparing to refuse to spend congressionally mandated funds, The Post reported last week, to test a law known as the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 meant to prevent the executive branch from overturning spending decisions made by Congress.

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In next year’s budget, the Education Department has proposed eliminating all six of the grant programs affected by Tuesday’s withholding. That decision will ultimately be up to Congress.

The funds withheld this week also include money for classroom technology, teachers’ professional development, educational support for children of migrant workers such as seasonal farmworkers, and academic enrichment activities including STEM education, mental health services, and college and career counseling.

K-12 school leaders have had to delay planning for the upcoming school year and are facing financial uncertainty, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. She called the freeze in funding “lawless.”

“These are congressionally approved programs for this year, and the Trump administration is trying to defund education unilaterally through government overreach,” Weingarten said.