Democrats Challenge Education Secretary McMahon on Proposed Budget Cuts During House Spending Hearing

WASHINGTON — U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced scrutiny from House Democrats on Wednesday regarding significant funding cuts proposed at her agency since President Trump’s administration began.

During a hearing before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Democrats expressed deep concern over the Trump administration’s $12 billion budget cut to the Department of Education.

McMahon defended her department’s actions, stating the goal is to reduce federal bureaucracy and empower states in managing their educational needs. She emphasized efforts to downsize an overstaffed department and eliminate outdated contracts that benefit private entities at taxpayers’ expense.

“We’ve reduced the department’s workforce by thousands and suspended grants related to contentious diversity programs,” she stated as she presented the budget request, which aims to decrease funding by over 15%.

Critics, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro, condemned these moves as harmful to public education and detrimental to vulnerable communities. “Hundreds of millions in funding have been frozen, and essential programs are being terminated,” DeLauro remarked.

DeLauro particularly criticized the proposal to replace 18 K-12 education grant programs with a single $2 billion flexible grant, arguing it equates to a significant reduction in educational support. She stressed that states cannot absorb such budget cuts effectively.

McMahon contested claims that the Office for Civil Rights within her department is being “decimated,” asserting that while staffing has been reduced, the office is addressing backlogged cases from the previous administration.

On the Republican side, members focused discussions on school choice initiatives, which offer alternatives to traditional public schooling. Rep. Robert Aderholt emphasized the importance of providing choices to families dissatisfied with their local schools, highlighting charter schools as a viable solution.

McMahon indicated that promoting school choice is a priority. She revealed plans to increase funding for charter schools, underlining the belief that more choices lead to better outcomes for students. “The president and I are committed to ensuring parents have options for their children’s education,” she concluded.