EdTrust Applauds the Senators’ Pushback Against the Great American Heist
Bipartisan education funding bill rejects Trump’s plan to dismantle public education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2025
Contact: media@edtrust.org
EdTrust Applauds the Senators’ Pushback Against the Great American Heist
Bipartisan Education Funding Bill Rejects Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Public Education
Statement from Denise Forte, president and CEO of EdTrust
WASHINGTON – “The Great American Heist — the largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history — has overshadowed the return of students to our nation’s classrooms. However, we received welcome news yesterday, when the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved its latest funding proposal for the Department of Education. Its contents delivered a strong rebuke to both the White House’s budget plan and Secretary McMahon’s vision for education in America, and it was passed out of committee by a 26-3 bipartisan vote.
“The budget committee’s proposal would provide $79 billion in discretionary funding for FY 2026, nearly $13 billion more than what the White House requested. The proposal completely rejects the administration’s vision of a destroyed Department of Education by maintaining funding for dozens of programs that the administration has proposed to eliminate. Furthermore, the bipartisan bill continues funding for the K-12 and adult education programs the administration tried to shut down through the illegal withholding of funds it just recently released. The bill also funds programs that are currently being held in limbo by the administration with little to no public guidance on their future.
“The bill includes EdTrust priorities like Title I, which received a slight funding increase, but also maintains funding for the maximum Pell grant, several programs to increase the number of teachers, including supporting the development of teachers that look like the students they serve, and pathways programs, like Postsecondary Student Success Grants, which support college students and student parents getting to and through school successfully. Finally, the bill contains language ordering the Department of Education to discharge formula grants on time, maintain adequate staffing levels to implement prior and recent educational policy changes, and prevent Title I and IDEA from being moved to other agencies.
“While this proposal is far from becoming law and contains lower levels of investment in a broad swath of educational programs than our students deserve, we applaud the bipartisan effort to stand up to the Great American Heist and its attacks on America’s students, parents and families, schools, and communities. President Trump and Secretary McMahon want to annihilate public education and the Department of Education via draconian spending cuts and mass illegal firings. This proposal proves a cohort of bipartisan senators are listening to Americans who say they want more investment in education and are willing to chart a different course.
“EdTrust will continue to advance our bold vision for public education. This bill shows that expanding opportunities for low-income students and students of color in every zip code and at every level of education can be part of a bipartisan vision for education in America.”
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