DOE’s COVID-19 ‘fiscal cliff’

The Department of Education’s costly campaign against COVID-19’s impact on kids’ learning could send the agency toward a “fiscal cliff,” according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

An audit by the comptroller asserts that new DOE initiatives launched with $8 billion in emergency federal assistance through fiscal 2025 will exhaust that funding.

“Historic federal investment has provided an opportunity to meet short-term challenges, but it won’t last forever,” the comptroller said.

The report stated that COVID-19 programs will lead to recurring costs of $1 billion by 2025 — “creating a fiscal cliff that will pressure the city to cut services or find new funds.”

City Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Laura Feyer said, “We carefully monitor DOE’s budget and will address any needs through the budget process at that time.”