The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in grants as part of a review to see if the grants align with the president's positions.
It's impacting after-school and summer programs, English language instruction and adult literacy classes across the country, including in Columbus.
State education agencies were supposed to have the money by July to support summer programs and after-school programs in the next school year.
An Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department did not provide a timeline and warned that “decisions have not yet been made” on grants for the upcoming school year.
YWCA Columbus offers programs funded by the grants. The organization is asking its supporters to sign a petition urging lawmakers and other elected officials to pressure the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to release the money.
The national Afterschool Alliance is supporting the petition which states more than one million kids across the country could lose programming.
The Afterschool Alliance states the programs keep kids safe, boost student performance and help working families. Without the funding, kids will lose access to summer enrichment, STEM learning, sports, nutritious summer meals and after-school care, according to the Afterschool Alliance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
