WASHINGTON — Education experts and advocates on Tuesday urged Congress to repeal an incoming national school voucher program over concerns that it will divert critical funds away from public schools to private institutions.  

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono convened a Democratic-led panel to sound the alarm on the sweeping program, which marks a key pillar of President Donald Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ efforts surrounding school choice. 

The Hawaii Democrat blasted the federal initiative, set to launch in early 2027, as a “tax break for wealthy families whose children are already enrolled in private schools, disguised as support for education.” 

At least 30 states have already opted in to the program, which allocates up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for people donating to organizations that provide K-12 scholarships for education-related services at private or public schools. 

The program is baked into the GOP’s “big, beautiful” bill that Trump signed into law in 2025. The U.S. Treasury Department is slated to release proposed regulations by the end of this month. 

Repeal attempts

Hirono and Arizona Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, joined by more than two dozen of their colleagues, introduced legislation in April to repeal the program. 

Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore introduced a companion bill in June with Reps. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and dozens more original cosponsors. 

But any measure to roll back the program faces a dismal path in the GOP-controlled House and Senate.

The umbrella term “school choice” centers on alternative programs to a student’s assigned public school. Opponents say these efforts drain critical funds and resources from school districts, while advocates argue the initiatives are necessary for parents who are dissatisfied with their local public schools.

Augustus Mays, vice president of partnerships and engagement at the nonprofit policy and advocacy group EdTrust, said “our conclusion is clear: This is not free money or a targeted investment in students with the greatest needs.” 

“It is an uncapped federal tax subsidy that steers public resources toward private education with few safeguards,” he added. 

Mays pointed out that “a voucher does not guarantee access or quality,” noting that private schools are not bound by the same civil rights protections and obligations extended under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. 

Diverting funds?

The Education and Treasury departments have said that the credit “does not divert money from local or state taxes, which make up the large majority of school funding,” according to a fact sheet. 

The agencies have also pointed to examples of education expenses the scholarships can be used for, such as “tuition for students to attend private schools of choice, tutoring at public schools, and support services for students with disabilities.” 

But Jessica Levin, litigation director at the advocacy group Education Law Center, said it’s a “major misconception” that “this is free money without cost to public schools” or that “currently underfunded public schools will benefit from the voucher program.” 

“Tax credit voucher programs are funded with public dollars because the money sent to scholarship granting organizations is money that would otherwise have been paid in state or federal taxes and gone into the state or federal treasury,” Levin said.

Trump administration defends tax credit

Meanwhile, Savannah Newhouse, a spokesperson for the Education Department, defended the tax credit, saying opponents of the program are “resorting to fearmongering by falsely labeling it a voucher because the phrase ‘we don’t want families to have more options to succeed in education’ isn’t a winning message,” in a statement shared with States Newsroom.  

“The truth is that this provision does not take a single dollar away from public schools because it is funded by the generosity of private donors that supplement — not supplant — existing education dollars,” she added. 

“A word of advice: resisting change to the failed status quo in education makes you part of the problem, not the solution.” 

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday touted a national private school voucher program set to launch in early 2027.

During a White House Rose Garden event celebrating the back-to-school season, Trump and McMahon lauded the incoming federal school choice effort along with many of the education policies the administration has pursued, including ongoing efforts to dismantle the 46-year-old Education Department.

At least 30 states have already opted in to the school voucher program, which allocates up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for people donating to organizations that provide private and religious school scholarships.

The program, known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, was created in the GOP’s mega tax and spending cut bill Trump signed into law in July 2025. 

“One year ago, as part of the great, big, beautiful bill, we passed the Education Freedom Tax Credit — the largest ever expansion of school choice — and we want every parent to have the power to send their child to a high-quality school that shares their values,” Trump told the crowd of educators, parents and students. 

Monday’s event highlighted Trump and congressional Republicans’ continued focus on school choice as a central point of their education agenda, with the upcoming voucher program marking a pillar of that effort. 

The umbrella term “school choice” centers on alternative programs to a student’s assigned public school. While opponents argue these efforts drain critical funds and resources from school districts, advocates say the initiatives are necessary for parents dissatisfied with their local public schools.

Attendees at the Rose Garden also included Republican Govs. Jim Pillen of Nebraska and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, as well as GOP Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, who chairs the House Committee on Education and Workforce.  

McMahon echoed the president, saying the federal program gives parents “unprecedented freedom to choose the path that is best for their child.” 

She added that “it’s no surprise that over half of our nation’s states — both red and blue — have raced to this historic choice option, benefiting families whether their child attends public or private school.”  

Dems working to reverse program

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats are already attempting to axe the program. 

Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii in April introduced a bill in the Senate, alongside nearly 30 of their colleagues, that would repeal the program. 

Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin introduced a companion bill in the House in June with Reps. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and dozens more original co-sponsors. 

The legislation faces a dismal fate in the GOP-controlled House and Senate.