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U.S. Department of Education's 2026 Budget Cuts

The fiscal year 2026 budget proposal released by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has drawn extreme criticism from education advocates, notably the Network for Public Education (NPE). They have described this budget as possibly the most damaging in the organization's history. The proposal entails a staggering cut of $8.5 billion from federally funded educational initiatives, effectively terminating 10 programs entirely while collapsing 18 others into a significantly reduced block grant of $2 billion—which is a $4.5 billion decrease from the previous year.

The implications of such a drastic change are far-reaching and troubling. The programs that states are now prohibited from funding with these block grants include essential support for migrant children of agricultural workers, English language acquisition grants, community schools, teacher leadership programs, initiatives for school improvement, and support for students with disabilities. Additionally, early childhood education programs like Ready to Learn have been axed from the budget.

Executive Director of NPE, Carol Burris, expressed deep concern, stating that these budget cuts are not merely reductions but calculated eliminations of programs crucial for vulnerable populations. She pointed out that these changes effectively dismantle the support systems that provide low-income, working-class families, and English learners the opportunity for a fair education. Moreover, even programs designed for veterans have faced budgetary cuts.

Burris noted that despite the drastic slashes to programs supporting migrant students, which were justified by McMahon on the grounds of misappropriation claims, the reality is that most of these students are U.S. citizens or legally residing individuals. This raises serious questions about the motivations behind these cuts and the narratives shaping them.

Higher education has not been spared from these reductions either. Key allocations have been dramatically reduced, including Pell Grants, where the maximum aid has dropped from $7,395 to $5,710, reflecting a cut of about $1,400. Additionally, the Federal Work-Study funding has seen an 80% reduction, equating to a loss of $1 billion. Programs aimed at supporting veterans and childcare on college campuses for student-parents have been wiped out completely, totaling a contraction of about $1.67 billion in overall college support.

Diane Ravitch, President of NPE, described these cuts as a means of