Federal Education Funding is in Jeopardy!

Don’t Put Education at Risk: Act Now to Oppose Changes that Threaten Education Funding

CEF letter opposing House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education bill, urging bipartisan support for full-year adequate funding

September 2025

We write on behalf of the more than 110 education organizations, institutions, and other members of the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) to strongly oppose the deep and harmful proposed cuts to education funding contained in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee on September 9. We urge Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to enact legislation that ensures education programs can continue to operate successfully throughout the new fiscal year beginning on October 1. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that protects education funding and programs while essentially freezing Education funding at the FY 2025 enacted level. While this falls well short of what is needed, this proposal would preserve critical funding for education and represents a pragmatic compromise that secured strong support from both parties.

To read the full letter, click here.

The Committee for Education Funding is leading a critical advocacy campaign to stop ongoing actions at the Department of Education that jeopardize funding to schools, colleges, and other education programs. If Congress doesn’t enact guardrails to stop these changes to the Department of Education and protect education funding, here’s what’s at stake:

K-12 students would face reduced support and resources – that means fewer teachers, larger classes, and reduced offerings
Student financial aid and job training opportunities would be slashed, abandoning those hoping to gain skills and knowledge to become productive members of society
Instead of reducing the administrative burden for state and local education leaders, changes underway would increase costs, time, and difficulty in effectively receiving and using federal funds
Life-saving research and services would cease
Our economy, national security, and global competitiveness would be weakened.

The facts are clear: The majority of Americans oppose cutting vital education funding. (source)

A majority of Americans oppose eliminating the Department of Education and want more support for teaching and learning, not less. (source)

Despite that, the Department of Education is forcing changes that will increase costs, time, and difficulty in effectively receiving and using federal funds instead of reducing the administrative burden for state and local education leaders.

It’s crucial that your Senators and Representatives hear from constituents who oppose burdensome new administrative hoops and the dismantling of the federal responsibility to protect education and ensure that enacted funding is spent to support teaching and learning.

Take action today! Tell your members of Congress to enact guardrails to support education funding and maintain the federal role in education. Call them at 1-888-853-7037 or use CEF’s #HearOurEdStories toolkit” that has sample messages and easy directions on how to share your message.

Federal Education Funding is in Jeopardy!

Don’t Put Education at Risk: Act Now to Oppose Changes that Threaten Education Funding

CEF letter opposing House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education bill, urging bipartisan support for full-year adequate funding

K-12 students would face reduced support and resources – that means fewer teachers, larger classes, and reduced offerings

Student financial aid and job training opportunities would be slashed, abandoning those hoping to gain skills and knowledge to become productive members of society

Instead of reducing the administrative burden for state and local education leaders, changes underway would increase costs, time, and difficulty in effectively receiving and using federal funds

Life-saving research and services would cease

Our economy, national security, and global competitiveness would be weakened.

It’s crucial that your Senators and Representatives hear from constituents who oppose burdensome new administrative hoops and the dismantling of the federal responsibility to protect education and ensure that enacted funding is spent to support teaching and learning.

Take action today! Tell your members of Congress to enact guardrails to support education funding and maintain the federal role in education. Call them at 1-888-853-7037 or use CEF’s #HearOurEdStories toolkit” that has sample messages and easy directions on how to share your message.

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