Statement from All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd on President Trump’s FY26 “Skinny Budget” Proposal
May 5, 2025
Contact: Enrique A. Chaurand
Email: echaurand@all4ed.org
Washington, D.C. – Last week, President Trump released his proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year 2026—a plan that makes deep and damaging cuts to education funding across the board. From early childhood to adult learning, this proposal threatens programs that millions of students and families depend on every day. In response, Dr. Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed, issued the following statement:
“President Trump’s proposed budget may be “skinny” in name, but it’s bloated with bad decisions and devastating cuts. At a time when our nation urgently needs bold investments in talent, workforce, and opportunity, this budget proposes a staggering $12 billion—or 15.3%—cut to the U.S. Department of Education’s programs, dismantling support across the entire education continuum.
“All4Ed’s bipartisan polling shows that Americans overwhelmingly support increased federal investments in education. Rather than meet that demand, this administration has chosen to double down on ideological crusades that slash core services to learners of all ages and weaken oversight, putting the nation’s most vulnerable students at risk.
“This budget proposes to consolidate and block grant 18 K–12 programs, both formula and competitive, slashing $4.5 billion from essential services that help students access mental health care, benefit from strong teaching, and find safe spaces after school. These aren’t just budget lines. They’re lifelines. Block grants strip away federal accountability and give states a blank check—allowing funds to be redirected away from the students and schools who need them most.
“The budget fully eliminates all federal funding for English learners and migrant students—a more than $1.3 billion cut. That’s not just a policy decision; it’s a moral failure. Bilingualism is a competitive advantage in today’s global economy. And suggesting migrant children are unworthy of education is wrong, inhumane, and un-American. Many of the students served by migrant education program are often Americans whose schooling is disrupted because their families work in industries like farming and fishing – occupations that require them to move frequently during the school year.
“It also targets students striving for upward mobility by eliminating long-standing, bipartisan programs like TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. The rationale? That “access to college is no longer an obstacle. Tell that to the millions of low-income and first-generation students navigating financial and systemic barriers every single day.
“The budget zeroes out all funding for adult education, cutting off critical pathways for adults who are striving to earn a high school diploma or equivalency, develop new skills, earn workforce credentials, learn English and civics, and support themselves and their families through better-paying jobs. It sends a clear and cruel message: opportunity in America comes with an expiration date.
“In our nation, over half of working-age adults read below a 6th grade level, which translates to us leaving an additional $2.2 trillion in GDP on the table through unfulfilled potential. We simply can’t afford to leave our adult learners behind.
“Worse still, this administration has already halved the Department of Education’s workforce—and now proposes a 35% cut to the Office for Civil Rights. That means fewer investigations of discrimination, diminished accountability, and less protection for students facing bias or harassment in schools.
“The damage doesn’t stop at the Department of Education. The budget also targets the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, proposing deep cuts to programs that provide critical early childhood education and care. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Labor faces funding reductions that would weaken job training programs relied on by millions of Americans seeking to build new skills and enter the workforce.
“Let’s be clear: federal budgets are not household budgets. The money from these cuts does not go back to the bank. It simply vanishes—taking with it the educators, counselors, programs, and protections that help our students succeed.
“At a time when our country needs bold investments in talent, workforce, and opportunity, this proposal offers harmful austerity disguised as efficiency. It shortchanges students and families in every corner of the country—from young children in early learning programs to college students working toward a degree, to adult learners striving to improve their lives. No matter their age or where they live, all learners will feel the impact of these cuts.
“All4Ed calls on Congress to reject this shortsighted proposal and instead make the bold, necessary investments our students—and our nation’s future—deserve.”
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