The Trump Administration on Friday unveiled a partial budget proposal that calls for $163 billion in cuts to federal spending in the next fiscal year, including K12 funding programs.
Labeled the “skinny budget,” the proposed cuts will slash wasteful spending in numerous areas, including environmental, education, foreign aid and health-care programs. According to the proposal, the budget is part of the administration’s continuous goal of shutting down the Department of Education.
“To limit the federal role in education, and provide states with more flexibility, the budget creates a new K12 simplified funding program that consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new formula grant, and a Special Education simplified funding program that consolidates seven IDEA programs into a single grant,” the proposal reads.
The budget also maintains full funding for Title I, which provides financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families and special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon backed the budget in a public statement, arguing it will save taxpayers billions of dollars that would go to “duplicative, unaligned, or non-essential programs.”
“The federal government has invested trillions of taxpayer dollars into an education system that is not driving improved student outcomes—we must change course and reorient taxpayer dollars toward proven programs that generate results for American students,” she said.
The proposal also calls for $500 million—a $60 million increase—to expand the number of high-quality charter schools, which is part of the administration’s goal to empower parental choice in education.
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Just last week, Trump unleashed a slew of executive orders impacting higher education and K12, including actions like:
- Promoting artificial intelligence education for younger students.
- Supporting apprenticeships and dual enrollment opportunities.
- Promoting excellence and innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- Reinstating “common sense” school discipline policies.
- Safeguarding American interests by ending harmful foreign influence on colleges and universities.
- Reforming and strengthening education accreditation systems.
Read more about Trump’s recent executive orders impacting K12 education here.
