TRUMP SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS PROPOSES SHARP CUTS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS; ACTION WOULD DASH DREAMS FOR DISABLED ATHLETES

March 2019 Articles

Update March 27, 2019: Amid criticism over the DeVos budget, President Donald Trump today announced he will override her action and that Special Olympics funds will not be eliminated.

Budget would also slash funds for programs for economically disadvantaged and blind students

By Liz Alper

Photos: 2011 Special Olympics event held at Helix High

March 26, 2019 (Washington D.C.) -- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed massive budget cuts, nearly $18 million, to Special Olympics, a worldwide organization that allows children and adults with developmental disabilities to participate in athletics.

It's the third year in a row that DeVos has tried to cut Special Olympics' funds, but the first attempt in a Democrat-controlled House. She tried twice in the Republican-controlled House, but was also denied.

"We had to make some difficult decisions with this budget," DeVos said, though she acknowledged, "I think the Special Olympics is an awesome organization, one that is supported by the philanthropic sector as well.”

Rep. Marc Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, in response to DeVos admitting she did not know how many children with disabilities benefit from Special Olympics, said that more than 272,000 children benefit from the program.

Even though DeVos proposed a budget cut to Special Olympics, she announced that she would donate part of her salary to the program. A spokeswoman said that DeVos made the donation last year and added that DeVos is "personally supportive of Special Olympics and its mission." But that donation would replace only a small fraction of the $18 million in proposed cuts.

The proposed budget holds steady the amount of core funding for core special education programs, including grants to states under the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

DeVos was also criticized at Tuesday's hearing for eliminating money for the 21st Century Community Learning Center, which supports after school and summer programs for students, especially those from low-income families or low-performing schools.

"This year, I'm puzzled. You're trying to cut it again, completely ignoring the strong evidence that parents support this program and in fact want more of it," said Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat who's the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma commended DeVos for the proposed increased funding for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, charter schools and expansion of the Pell Grant.

However, Cole called some of her proposed reductions "shortsighted."

Pocan grilled DeVos at the hearing on Tuesday, asking, "What is it that we have a problem with, with children who are in special education?"

DeVos replied, "Supporting children with special needs, we have continued to hold that funding at a level amount and in the context of a budget proposal that is a 10 percent reduction."

Pocan pointed out that the proposed budget includes a 26 percent decrease in state grants for special education and millions of dollars in cuts for programs for blind students.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, blasted the budget, calling it "cruel and reckless," adding, "it will hurt the middle class and low-income families that most need our help. How can you support this budget? I mean that genuinely," she said. "As secretary of the Department of Education, how can you support, even boast, about taking 10 percent…away from our teachers and students?"

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