KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is heading back to Capitol Hill Thursday for another round of questioning concerning the Trump administration’s plan to slash funding for the Special Olympics.
Sparks are expected to fly when she faces a Senate committee to defend the White House’s proposal to cut $17.6 million earmarked for the Special Olympics.
In a statement Wednesday, DeVos said the administration is “focused every day on raising expectations and improving outcomes for infants and toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, and are committed to confronting and addressing anything that stands in the way of their success.”
“The Special Olympics is not a federal program,” she continued. “It’s a private organization. I love its work, and I have personally supported its mission. Because of its important work, it is able to raise more than $100 million every year. There are dozens of worthy nonprofits that support students and adults with disabilities that don’t get a dime of federal grant money. But given our current budget realities, the federal government cannot fund every worthy program, particularly ones that enjoy robust support from private donations.”
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