Who Gets Left Behind in the FY2027 Education Budget?

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed the FY2027 Labor–HHS–Education bill along party lines.

The bill, which now heads to the full House, recommends $71 billion for the U.S. Department of Education—down from $79 billion this fiscal year. The committee’s proposed funding level is even lower than President Donald Trump’s recommended $76.5 billion. However, the panel rejected the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate and consolidate several IDEA national programs, including teacher training and technical assistance.

All4Ed CEO Dr. Amy Loyd commented on the budget, saying, “This budget is a values and priorities statement about who matters enough to fund. And by the looks of it, the answer is apparently: not our nation’s children. We must be clear about what these cuts mean. They break our promise that every child—no matter their zip code—deserves access to a quality education. They walk away from the teachers and school staff who make that promise real.”

This legislation cuts Title I by nearly two billion dollars and would rescind almost 1.7 billion dollars in school improvement funds that school districts are counting on for next school year. It eliminates Title II‑A, which supports the preparation, training, recruitment, and retention of high‑quality teachers and school leaders.

The bill also zeroes out English Language Acquisition funding, and eliminates Full‑Service Community Schools, adult education state grants, youth workforce programs, and Preschool Development Grants. It also cuts subsidized student loans to pay for Pell Grants—making college even harder to afford.

Representative Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, said the bill “undermines education,” noting that the proposed reduction to Title I would lead to 30,000 fewer teachers nationwide. “These cuts are an attempt to undo the progress we have made,” she said. “It is a step down the path toward eliminating public education.”

[B‑roll: Workforce training centers, young adults in job training programs, hands‑on CTE classrooms]

This budget also eliminates the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – also know as WIOA – Youth Job Training program.

House Republicans argue the program duplicates Department of Education initiatives like Perkins CTE, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, andStudent Support and Academic Enrichment programs. But that is incorrect.

At least 75% of WIOA Youth funds must support Opportunity Youth—young people not currently in school. CTE and the other programs serve in‑school youth.

In response to this particular cut, Dr. Loyd said, “If you are a young person without a high school diploma, or an adult learner working to finish what you started, this bill pulls the rug out from under you entirely.”

All4Ed will continue to advocate for a budget that supports our nation’s students, educators, and families. Education should not be a partisan issue. This is about our commitment to all learners and the future of our country.

Thank you for subscribing to the All4Ed Flash. Be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service and social media. You can find us on linktree at All4Ed.