Budget Hearing - U.S. Department of Education

House Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

2025-05-21

Loading video...

Summary

This meeting of the Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services and Education convened to discuss the Department of Education's budget request for FY26 [ 00:16:22-00:16:32 ]

. Secretary McMahon presented the administration's agenda to reform federal education, emphasizing a reduced federal role and increased state control [ 00:29:44-00:30:03 ] . The session involved detailed discussions and sharp exchanges on topics ranging from academic performance and student loans to mental health funding and civil rights [ 00:16:43-00:16:45 ] [ 00:38:31-00:38:36 ] .

Themes

Department of Education's Role and Future

Secretary McMahon outlined the administration's objective to "wind down the Department of Education responsibly" by cutting waste and returning education control to states, parents, and educators [ 00:29:44-00:30:03 ]

. This involves shrinking federal bureaucracy, saving taxpayer money, and empowering states to manage education locally [ 00:30:03-00:30:05 ] . She noted significant reductions in department staff, cancellation of old contracts, and a proposed budget cut of over 15% [ 00:30:10-00:30:10 ] . However, Democratic members, particularly Ranking Member DeLauro, strongly opposed these proposals, asserting that the mission is to dismantle federal investments in public education and that Congress will not support efforts to destroy the Department of Education . They argued that the department ensures fairness, accountability, and equal opportunity, especially for marginalized groups, and that federal support closes gaps and enforces civil rights . Members like Representative Ellzey supported the move to return power to states, highlighting that education existed and thrived before the Department of Education's creation in 1980 .

Academic Performance and School Choice

There was widespread concern among members regarding declining academic performance, with plummeting test scores for K-12 students across the country [ 00:16:43-00:17:10 ]

. Secretary McMahon identified increasing school choice and focusing on literacy, specifically the "science of reading," as key priorities to address these issues [ 00:34:39-00:34:49 ] . She advocated for parental choice across various educational settings, including private schools, charter schools, public schools, and homeschooling, believing parents know what is best for their children . Republican members cited successful school choice programs in states like Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Louisiana as evidence of positive outcomes [ 00:57:57-00:58:12 ] [ 01:09:20-01:09:28 ] [ 01:39:47-01:39:59 ] . Democratic members countered that such moves could funnel money from public schools to unregulated private institutions, effectively harming the vast majority of students .

Student Loan Program

The state of the federal student loan program was a major point of discussion, with concerns raised about the previous administration's "disastrous messaging" regarding loan forgiveness, leading to massive confusion and high default rates [ 00:20:28-00:20:53 ]

. Less than 40% of borrowers are currently in repayment, posing risks to individual credit ratings and billions in taxpayer losses [ 00:20:58-00:20:58 ] [ 00:35:45-00:35:53 ] . Secretary McMahon stated that the department is working to facilitate an orderly return to repayment, directing borrowers to resources on studentaid.gov and collaborating with the Treasury for collection efforts . She reported collecting nearly $100 million in back loans since May 5th . Critiques from Democratic members included the proposed elimination of need-based financial aid like Pell Grants and the Federal Work-Study program, which support millions of students from working-class families . Concerns were also raised about the potential negative impact of loan program changes on students pursuing medical and nursing careers .

Mental Health Services and Funding

Ranking Member DeLauro expressed strong concern over the cancellation of mental health grants, highlighting a nationwide shortage of school-based psychologists, counselors, and social workers [ 00:38:31-00:38:36 ]

. She pointed to specific instances in Wisconsin and North Carolina where successful programs had their grants canceled, impacting thousands of students . The legality of freezing congressionally appropriated funds for mental health services was questioned, with the Ranking Member seeking a commitment from Secretary McMahon to obligate all appropriated funds by September 30th . Secretary McMahon stated that programs are being evaluated and that some funds were not always used for healthcare, but affirmed the department's commitment to abiding by the law [ 00:39:38-00:39:46 ] [ 00:42:03-00:42:03 ] .

Foreign Influence in Education

Concerns were raised by Representative Edwards about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in U.S. education, specifically through federally funded research at universities that has advanced the CCP's military goals [ 00:46:20-00:46:43 ]

. Secretary McMahon indicated the department's focus on ensuring compliance with Section 117 regarding foreign donations to universities and vetting of professors and students [ 00:46:58-00:47:27 ] . She also expressed willingness to work with Congress on issues like joint institutes with Chinese universities and the potential malign influence of Confucius Institutes/Classrooms in K-12 systems .

Civil Rights and Discrimination

The discussion included concerns about the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the Department of Education, with assertions that it is being "decimated" through budget and staff cuts . Secretary McMahon acknowledged that discrimination still exists in some areas and defended the OCR's actions, stating that it has reduced its size but is efficiently addressing a backlog of cases [ 01:32:51-01:33:16 ]

. Republican members emphasized the importance of protecting students from discrimination, particularly Jewish students from anti-Semitism on college campuses . There was also a strong focus on Title IX rules and the administration's stance on redefining sex-based discrimination to include gender identity, with Secretary McMahon affirming a biological definition of a woman [ 01:56:00-01:56:00 ] .

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely contentious and polarized . While there were initial polite greetings and expressions of gratitude, discussions quickly became confrontational, especially during exchanges between Democratic members and Secretary McMahon [ 00:16:22-00:16:32 ]

[ 00:26:56-00:26:57 ] [ 00:38:10-00:38:16 ] . Democratic members expressed strong opposition, frustration, and accusations of unlawfulness regarding the administration's education policies and budget proposals . Republican members were generally supportive, commending the Secretary's initiatives and often echoing her arguments for federal disengagement and state control [ 00:16:34-00:16:40 ] [ 00:57:31-00:57:48 ] [ 02:00:12-02:00:22 ] . The debate frequently highlighted a fundamental philosophical divide on the role of the federal government in education.