McMahon Testifies to Congress on the FY26 ED Budget

In identical testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday and to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on Wednesday, U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon outlined three areas that served as guidance for the development of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Education budget: eliminating bureaucracy and sending the responsibility for education back to the states; strengthening enforcement of federal law as interpreted by the current Administration; and bolstering school choice.

When questioned by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) about cuts to specific education programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) technical assistance centers, McMahon replied that any specific program can be continued with the IDEA monies that States receive, based on a state’s prioritization of those funds. Senators and House members who challenged other budget cuts to education, such as the TRIO program, received the same answer. McMahon repeatedly replied that a primary objective of the FY 2026 budget is "eliminating bureaucracy and sending education back to the States.” 

Listen to the Senate testimony here and the House testimony here.