US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testified before the U.S. House Education Workforce Committee on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 (screenshots from the committee’s live stream)

WASHINGTON – Education Secretary Linda McMahon stole heat from Democrats on the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday over a Trump administration’s initiative to dramatically rethink the federal role in education and eliminate the education sector.

Lawmakers aimed at President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget request (including a $12 billion spending cut) and efforts to dismantle the institutions and threats that drag on funds for schools that use race-sensitive practices across aspects of student life.

Department summary Cut said it “reflects the institutions that are being involved responsibly.”

Michigan Republican Chairman Tim Wahlberg praised McMahon’s efforts.

“We believe in reducing bureaucracy, trusting educators, trusting state and local leaders, and trusting innovators who are being pushed against the barriers thrown by the bureaucracy,” he said. “And more than anything, we trust our parents. This is our vision and, thankfully, the management that shares this vision is ultimately done.”

However, Rep. Bobby Scott, a ranking member of the panel, denounced the department’s priorities, including budget proposals, saying, “It would make it more difficult for students to register and provide university education by proposing needs-based cuts for grants, such as Pell and Work Research.”

“After all, it’s the students in this country who are struggling with this budget proposal,” the Virginia Democrat said. “Low-income families, students with disabilities, English learners, international students, and students of color face more hurdles to access equal educational opportunities.”

The budget calls for the elimination of key programs managed by the education sector for disadvantaged and low-income students. Federal Trio Program Then either gain early awareness and preparation for your undergraduate programme or prepare yourself.

The budget request also proposes an increase of $60 million to expand the number of charter schools in the country and reduce the $1,700 from the maximum amount students can receive through the Pell grant each year.

A federal judge in Massachusetts dealt with the administration in May A big retreat The educational agenda orders institutions to revive the above. 1,300 employees Get angry while reducing efforts, Department Blocks Closening the department from carrying out Trump’s orders; transfer Student loan portfolios and special education services to other federal agencies are currently underway challenging these policies.

The federal court of appeals on Wednesday upheld the judge’s order.

DEI Lesson Plan

Democrats on Wednesday aimed at the administration’s efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion, or DEI programs. The government wanted it Schools from using DEI practices Efforts blocked by multiple federal judges beyond the aspects of student life to continue receiving federal funding.

Pennsylvania Rep. Summer Lee said the Trump administration “has definitely revived a culture of racism that we’ve never seen since the Jim Crow days,” adding that “it made it clear that open attacks like black and brown are not only tolerated, but also encouraged.”

Asked by Lee if the lesson plan on the Tulsa Race massacre would be considered “illegal day,” McMahon replied: “I’ll have to go back to you.”

Lee then asked McMahon if he knew what the Tulsa race massacre was. The secretary stated:

McMahon was similarly uncommitted about questions regarding the autobiography assignment of the school’s isolated icon Ruby Bridges.

Flexibility of state

The budget proposal also calls for the integration of 18 grant programs for K-12 education and replacing them with a single formula grant program.

Democrats at Wednesday’s hearing denounced the administration’s push to return education “back to the state” and noted that some states have poor education records.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari said the education system has “absolutely failed” many students in the US. The main cause was that many states are “severely underfunded” the public education system, as the administration has not argued because of “too many” federal oversight or DEI policies.

When asked by Ansari about the risk that McMahon had consumed weight in public schools and universities if federal education funds were repelled or delegated to the state, the secretary said, “Federal education is not necessarily hampered.”

Ansari rejected the allegations and noted that some states, including her, have a “bad track record of education management.” She noted low rankings of Arizona’s public education, teacher salaries, test scores and the highest student-teacher ratio in the country.