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Kansas and Missouri are missing out on more than $129 million in federal K-12 funding that was expected to arrive July 1.

Why it matters: A national funding freeze under the Trump administration has left school districts in limbo just weeks before the new school year.

By the numbers: According to the Learning Policy Institute, Missouri is out nearly $84 million in federal K-12 funding, including about $38 million for teacher training and support, and nearly $20 million for programs that expand tech access and student safety.

Kansas is down about $45 million, with almost $17 million meant to improve teacher quality and reduce class sizes, and nearly $9 million aimed at boosting student learning through tech and mental health resources.

Zoom in: Kansas education officials confirmed to KSHB that nearly $50 million in federal Title I–IV funding expected by the national July 1 deadline has been delayed.

These grants help cover core programs like support for low-income students (Title I), teacher training (Title II), English learner instruction (Title III), and after-school, mental health and STEM education efforts (Title IV).

Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson said districts were told the funding is under review and urged school leaders, especially in rural areas, to "plan accordingly."

State of play: The funding freeze stems from a federal review of key education programs, per the School Superintendents Association.

The Department of Education has declined to release the money and referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget.

An OMB spokesperson told Axios that "no decisions have been made" and cited "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding."

Zoom out: Nationally, about $6 billion in K–12 funding is being withheld across five major grant programs, including migrant education and after-school and summer learning.

KS and MO schools shorted $129M as federal funds stall

A national freeze on K–12 education grants is holding up millions for Kansas and Missouri schools.

Illustration of a dollar made out of chalk on a chalkboard being erased

Kansas and Missouri are missing out on more than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$129 million in federal K-12 funding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/02/trump-administration-withholds-education-fund" data-vars-content-id="13752f7a-52ba-44dd-bddb-aeb7629cac90" data-vars-headline="KS and MO schools shorted $129M as federal funds stall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/02/trump-administration-withholds-education-fund" target="_self">$129 million in federal K-12 funding</a> that was expected to arrive July 1.Why it matters: A national funding freeze under the Trump administration has left school districts in limbo just weeks before the new school year.

Education

Money

Data: USDA, U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Share calculated using July 2024 population estimates; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

A newly signed federal law changes SNAP rules, and more than 840,000 Kansas and Missouri recipients could be affected.

Why it matters: The legislation is part of the "big, beautiful bill" passed this month. It increases work requirements, which could reduce access to SNAP, and shifts some costs to state governments, part of a broader plan to cut federal nutrition spending.

The big picture: The law raises the age range for SNAP work requirements from 18–54 to 18–64 and includes new conditions for parents of children 14 and older.

It also ties part of SNAP funding to states' payment error rates, shifting some benefit costs to states with higher error rates.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill would cut nutrition funding by about $186 billion through 2034.

Nationwide, about 12.4% of the population, or 42 million people, received SNAP benefits as of March.

Zoom in: About 10.5% of Missourians (654,000 people) and 6.3% of Kansans (186,000) receive SNAP, per recent USDA data.

A Missouri Independent analysis found the new funding formula could shift more than $400 million in costs to the state over the next decade. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that more than 150,000 Missourians could face reduced benefits due to expanded work rules.

Kansas officials estimate the changes could lead to $15 million in new administrative costs and $41 million in benefit cost-sharing under the bill's formulas.

By the numbers: CBPP points to a CBO indication that more than 2 million people would be cut from SNAP under the work requirement provision.

While the CBPP notes that revised legislation released June 25 slightly modified several SNAP provisions in the reconciliation plan, it still says more than 5 million people live in households at risk of losing at least some food assistance.

What's next: The bill was signed into law July 4. State officials are now assessing how to implement the changes and how they may affect residents and budgets.

SNAP changes are coming to Kansas and Missouri

A new federal law raises SNAP work requirements and could shift hundreds of millions in costs to the states.

A choropleth map of U.S. states showing the estimated share of population participating in SNAP, from March 2025 preliminary data. Nationally, about 12.4% of the population, or 42 million people, participate in SNAP. 

A newly signed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal law changes SNAP rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/03/trump-big-beautiful-bill-snap" data-vars-content-id="5aa9d8f2-a14f-4410-b8c6-c0eb2efadfbb" data-vars-headline="SNAP changes are coming to Kansas and Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/03/trump-big-beautiful-bill-snap" target="_self">federal law changes SNAP rules</a>, and more than 840,000 Kansas and Missouri recipients could be affected.Why it matters: The legislation is part of the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="big, beautiful bill" data-vars-click-url="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2622" data-vars-content-id="5aa9d8f2-a14f-4410-b8c6-c0eb2efadfbb" data-vars-headline="SNAP changes are coming to Kansas and Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2622" target="_blank">big, beautiful bill</a>&quot; passed this month. It increases work requirements, which could reduce access to SNAP, and shifts some costs to state governments, part of a broader plan to cut federal nutrition spending.

Politics

News

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) joined a growing list of airports refusing to air a TSA video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.

Why it matters: The Trump administration released the video for airing at TSA checkpoints earlier this month, but some transportation authorities have shelved the message out of concern that it violates the Hatch Act.

The 1939 law aims to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion.

Worth noting: Airports do regularly display videos from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, though those typically focus on safety or travel procedures, not partisan messaging, The Washington Post reports.

Zoom in: Jackson Overstreet, spokesperson for the Kansas City Aviation Department, said leadership reviewed the TSA request and determined it didn't meet the department's advertising standard.

"The work of the KCAD is nonpartisan and focused on making travel from MCI as simple as possible for flyers," Overstreet said.

Zoom out: Other major airports and the officials that oversee their operations — including in Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Las Vegas and other cities — confirmed to Axios they will not display Noem's video. 

Catch up quick: Noem's video says that it is the Transportation Security Administration's priority to ensure efficient, pleasant and safe travel — but "Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government."

Noem continues, "Because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay."

She then expresses "hope" that "Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government."

What they're saying: "[I]t's unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that largely echoed Noem's message.

McLaughlin did not directly respond to Axios' request for a response to local authorities opting against showing the video.

Go deeper: U.S. flights are being delayed due to staffing shortages as the shutdown continues.

MCI joins airports refusing Noem's TSA video

Kansas City International Airport joined airports nationwide citing concerns over partisan messaging.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem speaks on a TV screen at an airport in front of the words "REAL ID."

A monitor displays Real ID information with Kristi Noem at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York on Aug. 19. Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) joined a growing list of airports refusing to air a TSA video of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/09/trump-immigration-homeland-security-noem-cities" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/09/trump-immigration-homeland-security-noem-cities" target="_self">Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem</a> blaming Democrats for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="government shutdown." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/30/trump-housing-department-shutdown-alert" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/30/trump-housing-department-shutdown-alert" target="_self">government shutdown.</a>Why it matters: The Trump administration released the video for airing at TSA checkpoints earlier this month, but some transportation authorities have shelved the message out of concern that it <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="violates the Hatch Act" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-republicans-trump-administration-hud" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-republicans-trump-administration-hud" target="_self">violates the Hatch Act</a>.<ul><li>The 1939 law aims to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion.</li></ul>Worth noting: Airports do regularly display videos from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, though those typically focus on safety or travel procedures, not partisan messaging, The Washington Post <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/10/13/kristi-noem-shutdown-video/" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/10/13/kristi-noem-shutdown-video/" target="_blank">reports</a>.Zoom in: Jackson Overstreet, spokesperson for the Kansas City Aviation Department, said leadership reviewed the TSA request and determined it didn&#x27;t meet the department&#x27;s advertising standard.<ul><li>&quot;The work of the KCAD is nonpartisan and focused on making travel from MCI as simple as possible for flyers,&quot; Overstreet said.</li></ul>Zoom out: Other major airports and the officials that oversee their operations — including in Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Las Vegas and other cities — confirmed to Axios they will not display Noem&#x27;s video. Catch up quick: Noem&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="video" data-vars-click-url="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t6ubj2wlhc34awzcymh3qpur/post/3m2uxgeoajc2t?ref_src=embed&amp;ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fiframe.nbcnews.com%252Fn04fjKr4" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t6ubj2wlhc34awzcymh3qpur/post/3m2uxgeoajc2t?ref_src=embed&amp;ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fiframe.nbcnews.com%252Fn04fjKr4" target="_blank">video</a> says that it is the Transportation Security Administration&#x27;s priority to ensure efficient, pleasant and safe travel — but &quot;Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government.&quot;<ul><li>Noem continues, &quot;Because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.&quot;</li></ul><ul><li>She then expresses &quot;hope&quot; that &quot;Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.&quot;</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;[I]t&#x27;s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship,&quot; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that largely echoed Noem&#x27;s message.<ul><li>McLaughlin did not directly respond to Axios&#x27; request for a response to local authorities opting against showing the video.</li></ul>Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. flights are being delayed due to staffing shortages as the shutdown continues." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/07/flight-delays-shutdown-air-traffic-control-staffing-issues" data-vars-content-id="9a3705d4-d634-4941-8551-b1728d12f99f" data-vars-headline="MCI joins airports refusing Noem&#x27;s TSA video" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/07/flight-delays-shutdown-air-traffic-control-staffing-issues" target="_self">U.S. flights are being delayed due to staffing shortages as the shutdown continues.</a>

Travel

Latino

Axios Latino

New national polling shows an uptick in religious fervor among young men, even as more churches across the country are shutting their doors.

The big picture: Gen Z still has the highest share of religiously unaffiliated adults in modern history, but small hints of a religious rebound have spawned speculation about how that could reshape politics, culture wars and church strategy for years to come.

An estimated 4,000 Protestant churches closed in the U.S. in 2024, outpacing the 3,800 that opened, according to Lifeway Research.

Driving the news: A Gallup poll found 42% of young men between 18 to 29 now say religion is "very important" in their lives, up from 28% just a few years ago.

Young women in the same age group have held steady at about 30%.

Religious attendance among young men has climbed to about 40% or more each month, its highest level in over a decade.

Zoom in: At Our Lady of Good Counsel in Westport, about 50% of the adult parishioners are between ages 18 and 30, operations director Joe Ibarra tells Axios.

The parish has roughly 1,000 members, and about a third of its adult parishioners are converts or returning Catholics.

What they're saying: "We are very young," Ibarra says. "In a couple of years, the number of young adults will eclipse the number of older adults."

"For people interested in becoming Catholic, it skews male," Ibarra adds. "In a world that's very fast-changing, they're looking for something stable. It's always a pendulum thing. Things swing back and forth."

State of play: Recent studies have spotlighted an increase in church attendance among young men, especially in Catholic and conservative evangelical congregations.

Stories from The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal have pointed to packed pews, viral conversions and "TheoBro" culture as signs of a possible revival.

Some pastors report increased interest from Gen Z men, often tied to searches for community, structure or values.

Reality check: An Axios review of other recent surveys showed slight increases in reported church attendance among Gen Z men but little to suggest they're driving a "revival" like the Third Great Awakening of the early 1900s.

The bottom line: There's no broad Gen Z religious revival, but there is a targeted, politically tinged uptick among young men that's reshaping the conversation.

Gen Z is going to church in KC

A national uptick in religious fervor among Gen Z men is playing out in Kansas City, where half the parishioners at one Westport Catholic church are under 30.

A line graph showing the share of Americans who say religion is "very important" in their lives from 2000-2024. The overall percentage for U.S. adults is 48%, down from nearly 59% in 2000. Among men ages 18-29, it's 42%, a recent increase, while for women in the same age group, it's 29%, a steady de

New <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national polling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/16/gen-z-religion-poll-gallup" data-vars-content-id="b22ffef3-ac3d-4ff9-b28e-aa71e3b3e31d" data-vars-headline="Gen Z is going to church in KC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/16/gen-z-religion-poll-gallup" target="_self">national polling</a> shows an uptick in religious fervor among young men, even as more churches across the country are shutting their doors.The big picture: Gen Z still has the highest share of religiously unaffiliated adults in modern history, but small hints of a religious rebound have spawned speculation about how that could reshape politics, culture wars and church strategy for years to come.

Religion

A line graph showing the share of Americans who say religion is "very important" in their lives from 2000-2024. The overall percentage for U.S. adults is 48%, down from nearly 59% in 2000. Among men ages 18-29, it's 42%, a recent increase, while for women in the same age group, it's 29%, a steady decrease.

Avery Lotz

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