PGCPS officials warn federal funding uncertainty could squeeze 2026 budget, flag Medicaid and meal reimbursements

Prince George's County Public Schools officials told the County Council Education & Workforce Development Committee on March 10 that while most federal grant funding remains intact for the current year, several revenue streams could be at risk in fiscal 2026, potentially creating budget pressure for the district.

The district's chief financial officer, Lisa Howell, told committee members that "95% of the federal awards received by PGCPS are not currently impacted," but she named competitive grants, Medicaid reimbursements for school-based services and food and nutrition reimbursements as areas of concern going into 2026. Howell said the district is monitoring executive orders and federal guidance and preparing contingency plans for multiple scenarios.

Why it matters: PGCPS receives substantial federal funding that supports special education, Title programs, nutrition services and other core operations. Disruptions to reimbursements or the loss of competitive awards would reduce funds the district expects to receive and could require reallocation or cuts in future budgets.

Howell described federal funding in three broad buckets: entitlement/formula grants (Title I, II, III, IV and Perkins); special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and other federal resources such as…