Senators press education secretary on proposed elimination of TRIO and GEAR UP funding
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Summary
Multiple senators objected to the administration's FY26 proposal to end federal TRIO and GEAR UP funding, questioned the department's ability to audit program effectiveness, and sought commitments to preserve successful local programs while improving accountability.
Senators on the appropriations subcommittee pushed Secretary McMahon to explain why the administration's FY26 budget proposes ending dedicated funding for the TRIO and GEAR UP college‑access programs, and whether the department will support audits or accountability measures if Congress continues funding.
Senator Collins said she had personal experience with TRIO and called it effective for first‑generation and low‑income students, asking, “Could you explain why the administration has decided that TRIO programs are not worth the investment?” Secretary McMahon replied that TRIO would be funded through the end of the current year but is “not proposed to continue in the 2026 budget” because the department believes it lacks the ability to fully assess accountability across grantees.
In a separate line of questioning, Senator Kennedy and others recited program spending figures. Kennedy said the TRIO program receives roughly $1,858,000,000 a year and pressed McMahon on why the department could not audit grantees to determine outcomes. McMahon told senators she would work with Congress on renegotiating program terms and, if Congress re‑appropriated funds, she would seek audit authorities as part of that process. “I would sincerely hope that if you decide with appropriations to continue these programs, that we could work with you to renegotiate those terms that we feel kind of hamstrung,” McMahon said.
Several senators cited existing evaluations. Senator Merkley noted Department of Education evaluations and studies showing positive outcomes for TRIO participants and urged the secretary to consider that evidence before eliminating the programs. McMahon acknowledged program performance in individual cases but emphasized the department’s reported difficulty in measuring overall effectiveness under current statutory constraints.
There were no votes. Senators asked for follow up data on TRIO performance and requested the department return with proposals for accountability language if funding continues.
