High Country Times

Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg has expressed concern over recent policy changes to career and technical education (CTE) programs by the Biden-Harris Department of Education. In a statement, Walberg accused the department of "disregarding the law" to implement changes that could disrupt these programs.

Walberg highlighted the importance of CTE programs in addressing the skills gap and equipping students for in-demand jobs. He argued that the proposed changes exceed the department's authority under the bipartisan Perkins CTE Act and overlook objections from Congress, as well as state and local leaders in CTE.

He stated, "With only a handful of days left in office, the Biden-Harris Education Department is pushing through flawed and ill-advised changes to CTE programs." According to Walberg, these adjustments would impose additional burdens on states, school districts, and CTE initiatives at a time when job creators are facing a shortage of skilled workers.

Walberg further criticized what he described as federal overreach by saying, "This is the perfect example of the type of federal overreach Committee Republicans and the Trump administration are committed to ending." He urged the Trump administration to reverse these changes promptly and restore education decision-making power to state and local authorities.