‘The More Rescissions, the Merrier’: Hill Conservatives Celebrate Planned Cuts to Education Spending

Fiscal conservatives are cheering the White House’s plans to introduce another rescissions package that includes cuts to federal education funding.

“Additional rescissions packages are a win for taxpayers. Every dollar clawed back is money returned to the people,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told The Daily Signal. “I strongly support more rescissions packages to cut spending and protect America’s financial future.”

The Trump administration’s next rescissions package will ask Congress to cut previously approved education spending, among other items, The Daily Signal first reported. Fiscal conservatives in Congress celebrated the news as they await more details on what areas will be cut.

Freedom Caucus member Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said he would love to see any rescissions package from the White House that will “continued to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.” 

“I’m hopeful that it will fit in with the vision that the president set forth and that we have set forth as Congress, and that is to dismantle the Department of Education,” Harris told The Daily Signal, “cutting out the bureaucracy and all of the crazy spending that’s gone on that really has not done a thing to help the education of our children in this country as reflected by the [test] scores themselves.” 

Harris said President Donald Trump’s executive order dismantling the Department of Education in March aimed to cut out the bureaucracy. 

“Ultimately, I think we want to see education, power, and resources, and all of that returned to the states and the local communities,” he said. “We want to put parents back in charge of their children’s education. That’s primary.”

Harris hopes the education rescissions package will cut diversity, equity, and inclusion and “woke agenda programs” uncovered by the Department of Government Efficiency. 

“If it is a rescission package, and it does involve returning to power to the states in the area of education, then I’m all in,” he said. 

“Every dollar clawed back is YOUR money protected from Washington’s waste,” the Freedom Caucus posted on the social media platform X in response to The Daily Signal’s report. “The Freedom Caucus is ready to back additional rescissions and keep fighting to cut reckless spending.” 

The Freedom Caucus is “ready to work to advance President Trump’s agenda, fulfilling the American people’s mandate to save taxpayer dollars and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas.

“Fabulous news!” he said.

However, congressional Democrats will likely sing a different tune. After the first rescissions bill cutting $9 billion from NPR, PBS, and the United States Agency for International Development, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said he doesn’t see the point of coming to a budget deal if Republicans could just cut the funding with a rescissions package.

“They stabbed us in the back, and if they commit to us that they won’t do that again, then we might be able to write bills,” Murphy said. 

“The vibe today is, ‘We’re going to trade baseball cards with you, and then we’re going to sneak into your house later today and take our cards back,’” he said at a press conference. 

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., disagreed.

“The more rescissions, the merrier,” he said. 

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told The Daily Signal his support depends on what the next package specifically cuts from education funding. 

“We’re drowning in our own spending right now, but I’d have to look at it,” he said. 

Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., similarly suggested the need for Democrat votes in the rescission process does not  mean Republicans should ease off rescissions.

“I think Republicans are committed to using every tool in the toolbox and giving President Trump all the tools in the toolbox to be able to move his ‘America First’ agenda forward,” he told The Daily Signal.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., pointed out that Education Department spending has increased from $56.9 billion in 1980 to $268.4 billion in 2024.

“Meanwhile, performance scores have plummeted,” he said. “Time for a refresh!”

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told reporters Tuesday that cutting spending is something most Republicans can get behind, although it’s always best to have details.

“This government is too big. It spends too much,” he said. 

“[There are] massive areas that we can continue to look at,” he continued, “and I think all of our members would like as much information on anything that gets sent up, so they can make an informed vote to explain back home as to why certain amounts of spending are absolutely needed to be stopped, reversed, because people saw the long lists that have come out, things they think ‘Why is my taxpayer dollars being used for that?’ and they don’t like it.”

The Department of Education has “drained trillions from taxpayers, while taking away power from parents and local communities” for decades, Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, told The Daily Signal.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans are restoring local control, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, and working to make American education the best in the world,” he said.

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