Trump and McMahon promote national school voucher program

President Donald Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon promoted the upcoming launch of a national private school voucher program during a White House Rose Garden event. The program, known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, is scheduled to begin in early 2027. It allows taxpayers to claim up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for donations to organizations that provide scholarships for private and religious schools.

At least 30 states have already opted into the program, which was established through a tax and spending bill signed in July 2025. The administration’s broader education agenda includes efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, restore parental authority, and return power to the states.

In higher education, the administration has reached agreements with several universities, including Columbia, Brown, Penn, and Northwestern, to end certain DEI practices and restore merit-based admissions. Additionally, executive actions have reestablished the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education.