The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it is withholding $26 million that was supposed to be given to the Vermont Agency of Education on July 1.Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders said the decision will likely be detrimental to districts around the state this fall.

Lawmakers and advocates are calling the move an illegal act of impoundment, blocking funds already approved by Congress.

The funding was to go toward initiatives such as after-school and summer programs, English language instruction and professional development for teachers.