Dive Brief:
- House Republicans are considering a $5.2 billion cut — or a 27% reduction — in Title I funding for low-income schools and districts under a fiscal year 2026 proposal released Monday.
- The proposal would cut overall funding for the U.S. Department of Education, including K-12 and higher education programs, by 15% below the current budget of $78.7 billion, to $67 billion. However, the plan would not consolidate current competitive formula funding grant programs into one formula grant program — an approach included in President Donald Trump's budget proposal.
- The House will now need to debate and approve the funding plan and then align its proposal with the Senate's version. In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan bill that would fund the Education Department at $79 billion in FY 26, a slight increase to current spending.
Dive Insight:
As Congress returns from its August recess this week, one of the major tasks will be to finalize the budget by the start of FY 2026 on Oct 1. If that deadline isn’t met, there could be a federal government shutdown.
A shutdown would further hamper Education Department activities, which has experienced financial cutbacks and staff layoffs as the Trump administration seeks to reduce waste and send more decision-making power to the states.
Under the GOP House proposal for FY 26, some K-12 programs would see slight increases, including special education ($26 million), charter schools ($60 million), and career and technical education state grants ($25 million).
But, in addition to the Title I funding reduction, other K-12 programs are targeted for elimination under the House GOP proposal. Those include teacher training programs, full-service community schools and English Language Acquisition programs, according to House Democratic leaders.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, criticized the Republican plan in a statement,"Republicans are continuing their full-scale attempt to eliminate public education, decimating support for children in K-12 elementary schools and threatening the future of an entire generation."
But House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said in a statement the fiscal plan will "protect the well-being of the most precious and vulnerable among us: America’s children, seniors, and those with disabilities."
Cole added, "President Trump’s agenda to end progressive overreach and the weaponization of government against constitutional and parental rights is advanced in this legislation."
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies planned to discuss the budget proposal Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT.
Dive Awards
