WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut U.S. Department of Education funding face a setback with a bipartisan approval of a spending law granting a slight budget increase. Trump signed a measure funding the department at $79 billion this fiscal year, $217 million more than 2025 levels and $12 billion above his request. Sen. Patty Murray, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated in a social media post that this law opposes Trump’s push to dismantle the department. “Our funding bills send a message to Trump,” she wrote. “Congress will NOT abolish the Department of Education.”
The law rejects attempts to slash funding for programs aiding low-income students. Trump’s administration planned to reduce the 46-year-old agency, transferring responsibilities to states. This included six interagency agreements with other departments, prompting mass layoffs in March 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court briefly allowed these actions in July. The spending package also funds departments like Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and includes a temporary measure for Homeland Security.
‘Inefficiencies’
Despite Senate Democrats’ efforts, the measure lacks strong language to prevent outsourcing Education Department duties. A joint explanatory statement warns of inefficiencies from fragmented responsibilities across agencies. Lawmakers fear increased taxpayer costs and delays in federal funding for states and schools. The measure mandates biweekly briefings on interagency agreements’ implementation, including staffing transfers and service delivery metrics. When announcing agreements with Labor, Interior, Health, and State, the Education Department assured it would “maintain all statutory responsibilities.”
‘Necessary’ staffing levels
The funding agreement requires the department to support staffing levels needed for its responsibilities. Last summer, the department froze $6.8 billion in K-12 school funds, sparking bipartisan backlash in Congress, leading to funds being unfrozen.
Pell Grant spared
The Pell Grant maximum annual award remains at $7,395, according to a summary from Senate Democrats. Trump’s budget sought to cut $1,700 from the maximum award for 2026-2027, causing alarm among House and Senate appropriators. The measure also maintains funding for Federal TRIO programs and GEAR UP, programs aiding disadvantaged students, with $1.191 billion for TRIO and $388 million for GEAR UP, as per Senate Democrats’ summary.
While the administration aimed to cut funding for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program, the measure allocates $75 million. The Education Department did not comment on the funding package. The administration supported the entire package in a statement of administration policy, barely mentioning the education provisions.
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