Education is under attack at all levels, from pre-K to post-graduate, along multiple budgetary tracks in Congress.

President Trump’s FY2026 budget request slashes Department of Education funding by 15 percent, eliminates or consolidates programs in no-strings-attached block grants, and lowers the maximum Pell grant from $7,395 to $5,710—a 23 percent cut.

Last week, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon defended the changes before the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. Members of both parties expressed frustration when she deflected questions about the proposed cuts.

“The reality is this administration is actually taking unprecedented steps to extort schools and universities and hold federal funding hostage if they don’t conform with your agenda,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said. “It’s pretty clear that returning education to the states actually means letting states and colleges and local communities pick up the tab.”

The Senate is also gearing up for H.R. 1, the FY2025 budget reconciliation bill that should be called the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad bill. It simultaneously makes student loans more onerous—putting higher education out of reach for millions—and increases the deficit by $2.4 trillion, among other things.

It is unclear whether the Senate will make significant changes in H.R. 1 or pass it fast to please the Trump administration because, as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said, “We’re all afraid.” While several senators say they intend to put their own stamp on the bill, they are well aware that doing so could jeopardize final passage—H.R. 1 passed the House by just one vote.

Tell Congress what you think!

In solidarity,