Live: Linda McMahon testifies about education budget in Senate hearing
(NewsNation) — Education Secretary Linda McMahon testified on Tuesday before a Senate subcommittee about the Trump administration's budget proposal and its effects on her department.
President Donald Trump's 2026 budget request includes a 15% funding cut to the department. It allocates $66.7 billion to education, a $12 million drop from the previous year's discretionary budget authority.
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The funding changes include a $1,000 slash to maximum Pell Grant rewards, a 35% funding cut for the Office of Civil Rights and reductions to other student aid plans.
The School Superintendents Association has criticized the plan: 'The Administration preserved funding for priority programs such as IDEA and Title I in the proposal, but eliminated other crucial education funding, under the guise of efficiency.'
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When nominated and confirmed to her position, Trump tasked McMahon with putting herself out of a job as the administration works to shutter the Education Department altogether.
In a March interview with NewsNation, McMahon said the department's end is not a 'turn off the lights and walk out of the department. It's with close consultation with Congress and looking how the needs of students can best be serviced.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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