The Shocking Waste of $200 Billion in COVID-Relief Funds for Schools: A Call for Accountability

In a stunning revelation that has sparked outrage and disbelief, recent reports—echoed in posts found on X—highlight a troubling misuse of nearly $200 billion in COVID-19 relief funds allocated to U.S. schools. Originally intended to support students and educators grappling with the pandemic’s disruptions, these funds have instead been spent with little oversight and seemingly no meaningful impact on student outcomes. The details are as jaw-dropping as they are concerning, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the future of educational funding.

According to posts circulating on X, schools across the country have squandered an enormous sum on expenditures that appear far removed from their intended purpose of addressing pandemic-related educational challenges. Among the most eyebrow-raising examples:

These examples, while specific, are part of a broader pattern of questionable spending, with posts on X suggesting that the funds were drawn “with zero documentation.” This lack of oversight paints a picture of a system where accountability was virtually nonexistent, allowing funds to be allocated to projects that do little to mitigate the pandemic’s devastating impact on education.

The $200 billion figure refers to a portion of the federal COVID-19 relief funds, primarily from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, part of the CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and American Rescue Plan of 2021. These funds, totaling over $280 billion for education nationwide, were intended to help schools recover from closures, support remote learning, hire staff, purchase technology, and address student mental health and academic gaps. However, the lack of robust oversight—documented in past reports like those from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and state audits (e.g., California’s 2022 CalMatters investigation)—has left the effectiveness of this aid in question.

Posts on X suggest that the spending had “little impact on students,” a sentiment that aligns with broader concerns raised over the years. Studies and audits have shown that while some districts used funds for laptops, air filters, and mental health counselors, others diverted money to non-educational projects like sports facilities, urban sanctuaries, or, now, baseball stadium rentals and ice cream trucks. This misuse underscores a systemic failure: the rush to distribute funds during the pandemic, coupled with minimal tracking and reporting requirements, created a perfect storm for waste, fraud, and abuse.

With only $4 billion of the COVID-relief funds remaining, the U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) is taking decisive action, as indicated in recent posts on X. A new rule is being implemented: all grantees—school districts, states, or other recipients—must provide receipts for every purchase before any additional funding is released. This straightforward policy aims to plug the holes in accountability, ensuring that every dollar is tracked, justified, and tied directly to student needs.

This shift marks a stark departure from the early pandemic approach, when the Education Department faced “enormous pressure” to distribute funds quickly, often with limited oversight, as noted in OIG reports from 2020. While the new rule is a welcome step, it’s arriving late—after nearly $200 billion has already been spent with little transparency. Critics, including educators and taxpayers, may wonder why this wasn’t mandated from the start, especially given warnings from the OIG and state auditors about potential fraud and waste as far back as 2020.

The misuse of $200 billion in COVID-relief funds is more than a financial scandal—it’s a betrayal of trust for students, parents, and taxpayers who relied on these resources to address the pandemic’s toll on education. Learning loss, chronic absenteeism, and mental health challenges remain significant issues, with data showing that 19% of students nationwide were chronically absent in the 2023-24 school year, per reports from organizations like Rand and the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Yet, instead of tackling these problems, some districts spent funds on frivolous or unrelated projects, leaving students to bear the consequences.

This situation also highlights broader systemic issues in government spending. The lack of oversight, as seen in California (where no centralized database tracks spending) and nationally (with the Education Department’s limited data collection), mirrors challenges identified in other COVID-relief programs, like those for small businesses, where over $200 billion in potential fraud was reported in 2023. The new “receipts or no funding” rule could prevent future misuse, but it also raises questions about whether the remaining $4 billion will be enough to make a meaningful difference—or if it, too, risks mismanagement without stronger enforcement.

The outrage on X reflects a growing demand for accountability. Taxpayers, educators, and parents are rightfully asking: Where did our money go, and why wasn’t there better oversight from the start? The U.S. Department of Education and state agencies must now prioritize robust monitoring, detailed reporting, and public transparency to rebuild trust. Schools should be required to demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes—improved test scores, reduced absenteeism, or enhanced mental health support—tied to every dollar spent.

While the new rule is a step in the right direction, it’s a belated fix to a problem that’s already cost billions. Moving forward, policymakers must learn from this crisis, ensuring that future emergency funding isn’t squandered on baseball stadiums, hotel rooms, or ice cream trucks. The focus must return to students—the very reason these funds were allocated in the first place. As we navigate the final chapter of COVID-relief spending, with the ESSER obligation deadline behind us (September 30, 2024) and spending continuing through January 28, 2025, the lessons from this $200 billion debacle will shape how we approach educational funding for years to come. Let’s hope the receipts tell a story of real impact, not wasted opportunity.