Democrats Hammer DeVos for “Shameful” Proposal to Cut Special Olympics Funding, Eliminate Money for Student Mental Health Services
Updated at 5:30 p.m. – President Donald Trump made a late announcement on Thursday afternoon confirming that the administration would no longer push for the removal of federal funding for the Special Olympics.
"I have personally attended the Special Olympics and I believe it is an incredible event. After learning about the proposed funding cut this morning, I made the decision to override my staff and ensure that the Special Olympics continues to receive funding," Trump stated.
Following Trump’s announcement, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressed her gratitude, stating that she was pleased to see eye to eye with the president on this matter. "I have been fighting for this funding behind the scenes for several years," DeVos shared in a statement.
The individuals responsible for proposing the funding cut remain unclear, as both Trump and DeVos denied involvement.
Senate Democrats criticized Education Secretary DeVos for the Trump administration’s unpopular proposal to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics. Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois stated, "Whoever came up with that idea deserves a Special Olympic medal for their insensitivity."
During a hearing focused on higher education and the ongoing effort to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, Democrats directed their concerns towards the department’s request to cut federal funding for the Special Olympics. The program received approximately $18 million in funding this year, and this marks the third consecutive year that DeVos has proposed eliminating federal funding for it. Despite these proposals, Congress has never honored them.
The proposed funding cut gained significant media attention earlier in the week when Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, questioned DeVos about the number of participants who would be affected during a House Appropriations hearing.
The outrage surrounding the proposed cut prompted DeVos to release a statement on Wednesday, emphasizing her personal support for the Special Olympics and its mission. However, she reiterated the necessity of making budget cuts and stated that many deserving nonprofits do not receive federal funding.
DeVos reiterated these points when questioned by Democrats on Thursday. "I personally love the Special Olympics and have even donated a portion of my own salary to the organization. I hope that this debate will encourage more private contributions to the Special Olympics. Let’s not exploit disabled children for political gain. That is reprehensible and shameful," she stated.
Durbin responded by saying that eliminating the funding for the Special Olympics is also "shameful."
When Durbin asked DeVos if she was personally involved in the decision to propose the funding cut, she denied any involvement. Durbin then stated, "Someone needs to take responsibility for this poor decision."
Senator Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, challenged DeVos’s explanation that the cut was due to budget constraints. The Education Department’s budget amounts to approximately $71 billion, and DeVos proposed a 10 percent cut to its funding.
Murray pointed out that while DeVos sought to end spending for the Special Olympics, she requested additional funding for the charter school program. Murray argued that this shows DeVos prioritizing her own agenda over the needs of students with special needs. Murray also highlighted the fact that the charter school program has received significant funding increases in recent years.
Republicans defended the Trump administration, stating that they were adhering to congressional spending caps and were therefore forced to make cuts.
Republican Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, the chairman of the subcommittee overseeing the Education Department, explained that the final spending deal for the upcoming fiscal year, starting on October 1, is unlikely to follow these caps. He stated that certain programs are unlikely to be eliminated in the final budget.
Blunt also emphasized that the subcommittee has been able to pass bipartisan funding agreements due to their efforts in keeping partisan disagreements to a minimum.
Aside from the funding debate, Democrats also questioned DeVos about school safety and mental health services, particularly in light of recent suicides connected to school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut inquired about the reasoning behind the decision to reduce federal funding that aids schools in developing suicide prevention programs. He expressed concern that private donations alone cannot adequately substitute for this funding, especially given the severity of the national suicide crisis.
Secretary DeVos reiterated her previous statements, arguing that the Title IV funding is distributed too thinly. She mentioned that two-thirds of school districts receive less than $30,000, while the remaining third receive less than $10,000.
In response to this, she highlighted a proposed $700 million expenditure across multiple departments, dedicated to enhancing school safety. Specifically, $100 million from the Education Department would be allocated for promoting mental health and social-emotional learning.
Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin questioned the basis for DeVos’ claim regarding the insufficient spread of funding. She challenged how a smaller grant could effectively address the issue of lack of resources.
"I fail to comprehend how a significantly reduced amount could adequately substitute for the Title IV funding and provide substantial support to school districts for the diverse range of student health and safety needs," Baldwin remarked.
