The U.S. Department of Education is facing mounting pressure from higher education and K–12 stakeholders to release nearly $300 million in unallocated education research funds tied to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), according to letters sent to Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The requests target balances from fiscal years 2025 and 2026 that would lapse if not spent by Sept. 30, with critics warning that grant “closeouts” left hundreds of unreviewed proposals without new awards. Supporters say the delay undermines research that directly feeds major education data and program decisions, including work connected to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (“Nation’s Report Card”). A bipartisan group of 19 senators, including Jeff Merkley, Thom Tillis, and Elizabeth Warren, cited a remaining balance of about $290 million and pointed to a “sharp decline” in special education research and data gathering. Department officials told K–12 Dive the agency remains committed to meeting statutory obligations while supporting high-quality research, but the dispute has sharpened as appropriated funds are not being pushed out to grant recipients on schedule. Stakeholders are now urging immediate dispersal to prevent additional lapses and sustain the research pipeline. For colleges and school systems watching evidence-to-policy timelines, the immediate risk is program and data continuity—especially for studies that require multi-year follow-through rather than year-to-year start-stop funding cycles.