U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Screenshot from committee livestream)

WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Linda McMahon took heat from Democrats on the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce on Wednesday over the Trump administration’s initiatives to dramatically overhaul the federal role in education and eliminate the Education Department.

Lawmakers took aim at President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request — which includes $12 billion in spending cuts — as well as efforts to dismantle the agency and threats to yank funds for schools that use race-conscious practices across aspects of student life.

A department summary said the cut “reflects an agency that is responsibly win

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