Kaine Statement on Cancellation of Meeting with Education Secretary McMahon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement regarding the cancellation of a HELP Committee discussion with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about steps the Trump-Vance Administration is taking to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). The move came after Kaine announced he would host a press call from inside the meeting.

“The strength of our Department of Education is vital to our economy and America’s future. But the Trump-Vance Administration has spent the last year driving the agency into a ditch and then tried to send its Secretary of Education to the Senate for backroom meetings with senators instead of hearings in full view of the American public. Rather than allowing me to broadcast the conversation, which wouldn’t include any classified information, the meeting was canceled altogether. What is the Administration hiding about its efforts to dismantle critical education programs? I’m going to keep doing everything I can to find out and to demand accountability.”

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