On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee (Committee) approved a bipartisan spending bill for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) that would prevent the executive branch from removing Title I and special education programs to agencies outside the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The legislation also rejects several other funding reforms proposed by the Trump administration and would require timely awarding of formula grants by the USDE to states and school districts.
In fact, the bill, which passed the Committee by a vote of 26-3, recommends funding the USDE in FY 26 at $79 billion. That figure is $12.3 billion more than President Donald Trump’s proposal of $66.7 billion. It is also a slight increase over the current fiscal year, which funds the USDE at $78.7 billion.
The bill now advances to the House and full Senate. For more details from K-12 Dive click here.