U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced lawmakers’ scrutiny as her agency’s FY27 budget request advances proposals to dismantle programs and shift responsibilities to other federal departments. In testimony, McMahon defended interagency moves and budget priorities while Democrats argued the changes would add layers of bureaucracy and disrupt student-focused services. The proposed budget would maintain Title I funding around $18.4 billion while increasing support for special education and charter schools, including a stated rise in IDEA-related grants. Lawmakers also challenged the administration’s broader plan to fragment the Department of Education by establishing additional partnerships across Labor, HHS, State, Treasury, and Interior. Senator Tammy Baldwin questioned the operational feasibility of moving programs and warned that consolidations do not necessarily reduce administrative burden—citing inspector general findings about grant management capacity. Republicans and Democrats alike argued over whether the Education Department’s restructuring will preserve effectiveness for students and compliance functions. For higher ed professionals, the hearing underscored a near-term risk: student access programs and civil rights enforcement could be reshaped through funding levels, reporting requirements, and administrative handoffs, not just policy text.