According to the governor, Kentucky's portion of the money in question amounts to around $96 million — and they're dollars that were already appropriated by Congress.
In the complaint signed by Beshear, state leaders argue halting the funds is a violation of federal law. Notice of the action came on June 30, and the governor says states are "scrambling due to a lack of sufficient funding for these commitments just weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.”
While officials say schools had already baked that funding into their budgets, the administration says it's freeing the dollars to ensure they align with the president's priorities.
Beshear's decision to join the lawsuit isn't a first. He also put his name to a February suit, again challenging frozen federal funds.