A new analysis of U.S. Department of Education spending reports found the agency letting more than $75 million in congressionally appropriated funds expire without spending—an amount described as without recent precedent. The pattern, based on SF-133 reports reviewed by Education Week for fiscal years 2015-2025 and data available for fiscal 2026 through June, shows more unspent money and slower spending during President Donald Trump’s second term than in recent prior administrations. The report cites unobligated balances across multiple accounts, including staff salaries and the Office for Civil Rights, as well as mental health grants, education research through the Institute of Education Sciences, and other program lines. Experts tied the slow execution to staffing reductions, canceled awards, and delayed implementation of mandated initiatives. Congress requires federal agencies to spend appropriated funds, which increases the compliance stakes for the department. Higher education leaders and advocates are likely to watch whether funding delays and unspent balances translate into program disruptions for students, researchers, and campus compliance offices. The case raises immediate operational questions for affected programs—particularly civil rights enforcement and mental health grant streams—when timelines and award cycles hinge on the Education Department’s budget execution.