Betsy DeVos denied making the decision but called Democratic critics “shameful.”
By Laura Meckler Laura Meckler Reporter covering national education policy and trends, and the Education Department Email Bio Follow March 28 at 4:47 PM BREAKING: President Trump's budget had called for eliminating all of the $17.6 million in federal funding for the organization, which gives people with intellectual disabilities the chance to compete in a range of athletic contests.
DeVos called Democratic attacks on the proposal “disgusting” and “shameful.” Matt Wolking, deputy communications director for the Trump campaign, went further, suggesting Democrats who support abortion rights are hypocrites for supporting Special Olympics, whose competitors include people with Down syndrome.
For a third straight day, Democrats and some Republicans maintained their attack on the DeVos budget plan, which includes sharp cuts to a range of programs — including eliminating $17.6 million for Special Olympics. At a Senate appropriations hearing Thursday, Sen. Roy Blunt , who chairs the education subcommittee, predicted Congress would again ignore most of the Education Department cuts proposed by the White House.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin asked DeVos whether she had personally approved the proposal. She said she had not but defended the decision as the result of necessary “tough choices.”“I hope all of this debate encourages lots of private contributions to Special Olympics,” she said. Then addressing Democratic critics of the decision, she said: “So let’s not use disabled children in a twisted way for your political narrative. That is just disgusting, and it’s shameful.
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