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That did not stop its president, President Donald Trump, from undermining it publicly on Thursday, when he told reporters that he had "canceled" the proposal for a decision – although this is the third consecutive year that DeVos includes it in its list of points. annual request for funding to Congress.
"The Special Olympics will be funded, I just told my people, I want to fund the Special Olympics and I have just approved funding for the Special Olympics," Trump told reporters before going to the Olympics. Michigan for a rally.
"I went to the Special Olympics, I think it's amazing and I just allowed funding, I've heard about it this morning, I've overtaken my people." We are financing the Special Olympics. "
After Trump spoke, DeVos immediately issued a statement saying:
"I am delighted and grateful to the President and the convergence of views on this issue.He decided to fund our Special Olympics grant.This is a funding for which I fought behind the scenes during the last years."
The White House presents annual budget recommendations to Congress, but does not have the power to apply reductions. It is unlikely that this funding cut will ever be successful in Congress, which calls into question why the White House would make such an obvious mistake in public relations.
DeVos has already proposed the elimination twice and legislators have rejected it, providing $ 17.6 million for the Special Olympics last year as part of an overall increase Department funding.
Earlier on Thursday, Ms. DeVos told Senators that she was not personally involved in the decision to propose to remove funding for the Special Olympics.
The Democratic senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, raised the issue at a budget hearing, saying that if DeVos did not offer this discount, the one who would do it should get a "medal". at the Special Olympics for insensitivity ".
However, DeVos has continued to advocate for the reduction included in the budget of its department, which maintains the same level of funding for basic special education programs, including state grants under the law on the 39, education of people with disabilities in the department.
DeVos said that although the Special Olympics is a "great" organization – to which she has paid a portion of her salary – it is also important to control federal spending. She proposed a 12% reduction in her overall budget.
Last year, Trump publicly challenged his chiefs of office to make budget cuts of 5%.
Congress rejected earlier demands for cuts to the education department's budget, even when Republicans controlled both chambers.
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