THE BROWNSVILLE OBSERVER : 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏'𝐒 "𝐁𝐈𝐆, 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋" 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐑𝗘𝐒, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐒𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

Brownsville, Texas — A sweeping federal law touted as a win for the wealthy, Trump's more-than-generous gesture to the billionaire oligarchs who elected him, is leaving public school districts like Brownsville ISD to pick up the pieces.

This week, the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) announced significant cuts to its after-school programs and educational services following deep reductions in federal education funding, a direct result of what lawmakers have dubbed “Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.”

Starting October 1, 2025, BISD after-school academies will now only run three days a week, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., down from a previously broader schedule. The changes are due to major losses in federal funding sources that once supported everything from migrant education and bilingual programs to teacher development and adult literacy.

While the bill’s proponents, under the direction of President Trump, have hailed it as a major success for cutting taxes and regulations, critics say it's doing so at the expense of working-class communities, especially those with high numbers of English learners, low-income families, and migrant students, like so many in Brownsville.

Superintendent Dr. Jesus H. Chavez emphasized the district’s commitment to students, even in the face of financial hardship. “While federal funding reductions have required us to make adjustments, our priority remains the same – to serve and support every child,” he said in a statement.

Still, the numbers are stark. BISD is set to lose:

$321,000 from Title I-C, which supports migrant students
$2 million from Title II-A, which funds teacher training and preparation
$1.3 million from Title III-A for English language learners
$3.1 million from Title IV-A for academic enrichment, including dual enrollment programs
$1.6 million from Title IV-B, which supports after-school programs
$1.3 million in adult education and literacy programs

To soften the blow, the district is reviewing staff positions funded by federal dollars and hopes to reassign employees where possible. Leaders are also reevaluating budgets to keep as many services intact as possible and planning ahead to cope with what could be long-term funding constraints.

But for now, many educators and families in Brownsville are left wondering why a bill that helped billionaires save on taxes has come at the cost of vital educational programs for kids who need them the most.

As Brownsville tightens its belt, the broader question remains: Who really benefits when federal dollars disappear and who gets left behind?