AFT urges Congress to reject proposed 2026 education funding cuts

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has formally called on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee to reject the proposed fiscal year 2026 funding bill for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. In a letter sent to committee members, AFT President Randi Weingarten expressed strong opposition to the draft legislation.

“This is idiocy, and, worse, it’s dangerous. This bill should strengthen public schools; expand art, music, and career and technical education programs; and cut healthcare costs for families, but instead bipartisan programs are being gutted to hand tax breaks to billionaires. It should make life easier for everyday Americans, but it does the exact opposite, doubling down on policies that will take a dagger to the heart of our communities,” Weingarten said in a statement.

Weingarten argued that essential programs such as Title I funding—which supports disadvantaged schools—are at risk under the current proposal. She warned that reductions could impact both Republican- and Democratic-led states by making college less affordable, increasing drug prices, and reducing access to food assistance for children.

“As a union of nearly 2 million members and on behalf of the tens of millions of children and families we serve, we’re fighting back. We refuse to stand silently while this administration and the congressional majority abandon critical Title I funding benefiting both red and blue states, make college less affordable, hike drug costs and rip food from hungry children, while entrenching the power and wealth of corporations and oligarchs,” she said.

Weingarten further stated that voters had signaled support for stronger public education systems during last fall’s elections. “The American people voted last fall to strengthen, not weaken, public education. They voted against inflation and for affordability. They do not support draconian cuts that decimate the services our students, families and communities rely on. That is why this ruinous bill must be rejected and immediately rewritten on a bipartisan basis.”

The leadership team signing off on the letter includes Randi Weingarten as president, Fedrick C. Ingram as secretary-treasurer, and Evelyn DeJesus as executive vice president.