We’re relieved and heartened to share that approved federal funding -- previously frozen by the Trump administration -- will be released this week. Thank you to everyone who used their voice—whether by signing petitions, calling local legislators, or spreading the word via social media channels—to advocate for organizations like Wings for Kids. Your momentum helped to release BILLIONS of dollars to kids in our communities.

“I’m thrilled to hear that they were able to finally release these very critically important funds for youth across the country,” says Julia Rugg, CEO. “Unfortunately, this freeze has not only caused disruption and uncertainty, we are also still dealing with unexpected shifts that will affect our students as the new school year begins. We’ve had to push our program start dates back, shrink our program staff, and make changes to our student transportation plans.” 

To add to the growing list of questions over the fate of education and afterschool programs under the Trump administration, WINGS is also concerned about the long-term prospect of future funding freezes or elimination of funds. Many education non-profits “will have to face some hard choices about their reliance on public funding moving forward,” said Rugg.

In a statement from Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance, she outlines the impact on America’s youth if more funding is cut from critical programs: 

“We remain deeply concerned that the administration is proposing $0 for 21st CCLC next year, instead collapsing it into a ‘K-12 Simplified Funding Plan’ with dramatically reduced support. If Congress agrees to that, we will see more children and youth unsupervised and at risk, more academic failures, more hungry kids, more chronic absenteeism, higher dropout rates, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce as our child care crisis worsens dramatically. Just as parents, educators, and an overwhelming bipartisan majority of voters mobilized to fight for the release of the FY25 funds, we will mobilize to convince Congress to continue and expand 21st CCLC funding next year.”

To keep these life-changing opportunities available for kids year after year, we must keep the momentum going.   

Here are a few ways you can continue to advocate for local afterschool programs:

• SIGN the petition on Afterschool Alliance to ensure funding for FY26 programming 

• Write or call your local and state representatives to express your support for afterschool funding

CLICK Sign this petition with the Afterschool Alliance to ➡️ APPROVE FUNDING FY26 NOW

CLICK If you can give to WINGS immediately for FY26, please ➡️ SUPPORT US