McMahon rejects 'misconception' of federal funding losses if Education Department heads back to states [View all]

Source: The Hill

08/31/25 4:13 PM ET


Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Sunday pushed back on what she called a “misconception” of federal funding losses if her department is wound down at the federal level the way the Trump administration wants.

“I think the misconception is that federal funding will go away if the Department of Education goes back more to the states. Title I funding is appropriated by Congress, that’s going to continue, and that deals with most of the issue that you’re talking about. IDEA [the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act], which is, you know, the funds for our kids with special needs,” McMahon told NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt on “The Hill Sunday.”

“Right,” Stirewalt said. “That’s going to not go away. That’s going to continue flowing. In fact, that should be the least concern of our states. But what’s going to happen is those states that are being innovative and creative are going to continue to be that way,” the Education secretary added.

In July, President Trump said McMahon would start the process of dismantling the Education Department following a Supreme Court decision letting the administration resume layoffs there.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5479760-mcmahon-education-department-trump/