The U.S. Department of Education says it will release some of the $6 billion in grant money previously withheld from public schools and freezing the funds.

The Trump administration said it wanted to make sure the programs being funded aligned with the president's priorities.

A senior administration official told The Associated Press a review of some of the programs is now complete, and that about $1 billion will be released to the states.

A review of the remaining remaining programs continues.

The decision comes just days after ten Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, urged the federal budget director to release the funds.

The letter said, quote, we share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left wing programs.

However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.

End quote.

Congressman McGarvey also sent a letter this week calling the move illegal and wrong.

He added, quote, such sudden and arbitrary freezes disrupt the budgeting process for the whole school year, injecting volatility and uncertainty as students are set to return to school in a few weeks.

End quote.

On Monday, Governor Andy Beshear joined more than 20 states in suing the Trump administration over the frozen funds, of which about $87 million are earmarked for Kentucky schools.