Governor Albert Bryan Jr. with U.S. Dept. of Education Secretary Linda McMahon in Washington earlier this week. Photo Credit: GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
Access to over $34 million in federal education funding has been restored to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced today. The reinstatement of the liquidation period extension for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Education Stabilization Fund grants comes after high-level discussions in Washington, D.C., between Governor Bryan and top federal officials.
The reversal by the U.S. Department of Education follows a recent meeting between Governor Bryan and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. During that meeting, the governor raised concerns about the negative effects of the department’s earlier policy shift, which had placed the territory’s critical education infrastructure funding at risk.
“I’m deeply grateful to Secretary McMahon and her team for their openness and willingness to work with us to find a practical solution,” Governor Bryan said. “This outcome reflects the power of collaboration and continued dialogue between the federal government and the territories. It also underscores our shared commitment to ensuring every student has access to safe and modern learning environments.”
The department’s prior change to the liquidation timeline threatened to pull back tens of millions of ARPA dollars designated for the Virgin Islands, according to Government House. These funds were earmarked for vital school modernization and safety projects, and their loss would have jeopardized ongoing infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving the health, safety, and learning conditions for students across the territory.
The decision to reinstate the extension allows the V.I. Department of Education to continue its high-priority initiatives without disruption.
With the extension now back in place, the territory can resume its modernization efforts, which include the installation of emergency backup generators, upgraded air conditioning systems, and other facility improvements designed to enhance safety, climate resilience, and overall functionality in public schools.
Governor Bryan noted that the achievement was a result of sustained federal engagement by his administration and credited the outcome to strong relationships with congressional allies and senior officials in the White House.
“This is what leadership looks like," he said. "It means being present, making the case, and delivering real results. We protected $34 million in investments for our students and secured the resources needed to provide safe and modern learning environments. Our administration is focused on getting things done for the people of the Virgin Islands."
Advertisements
