House Republicans want to cut funding for the federal agency in charge of investigating discrimination on campuses, even as they try to crack down on schools over accusations of antisemitism in response to pro-Palestine protests.
The House Appropriations Committee will propose “significant cuts of 10-11%” for the subcommittee that handles funding for the Department of Education, committee Chair Tom Cole announced Thursday. While precise proposals for the department are still to be determined, it indicates House Republicans are likely to seek major funding cuts there.
The Education Department is a common punching bag for Republicans when it comes to cutting the federal budget. But this year, House Republicans have spoken extensively about the need to combat antisemitism on college campuses, including by passing a bill that specifies how the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights defines antisemitism. Despite their urgings for the Education Department to do more to combat antisemitism, GOP appropriators do not seem eager to fund it.