Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to oppose the administration’s proposal to cut Department of Education funding by 15 percent in FY2026—on top of the $350 million in cuts to student loan programs made by the reconciliation bill. Votes on this issue may be included in NEA’s report card for the 119th Congress.
The proposed cuts in education funding could force states to choose between slashing student services—including some mandated by federal law—and other priorities when they are also facing the deep cuts in federal support for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) made by the reconciliation package.
We also urge you to oppose the proposed replacement of existing programs with two block grants: the “K-12 Simplified Funding Program,” a combination of Title I and 18 other programs, and the “Special Education Simplified Funding Program,” composed of all 7 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs. Programs slated for elimination include Full Service Community Schools, TRIO, Gear Up, English Language Acquisition, and the Teacher Quality Partnership, which addresses the teacher shortage through deep clinical practice.
In theory, block grants give states greater flexibility. In practice, they generally lead to less funding and less accountability for our most vulnerable students. States may also maneuver to shift funds earmarked for such students to voucher schemes that weaken public education and deprive students of legal rights and protections—especially those with special needs.
Finally, we urge you to oppose any rescission of education funding appropriated by Congress. The recent rescission of $9.4 billion in FY2025 funding—the first rescission in 30 years—set a dangerous precedent that undermines the bipartisan support our students need and deserve.
The public schools that educate 9 out of 10 students are the foundation of our democracy. We urge you not to cripple them with further funding cuts or block grants.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
