Congressional hearings this week featured testimony from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, focusing on education, small business, and labor policies under the Trump administration. Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed proposed budget cuts and outlined the administration's expectations for campus antisemitism policies, including banning encampments, prohibiting mask use, and vetting students and professors. She noted that the Office for Civil Rights has opened many cases and taken enforcement actions, such as pulling funds from schools, but did not address how cuts to the Office for Civil Rights would affect enforcement. Lawmakers also raised concerns about cuts to resources for students with disabilities and cited that 70% of 8th graders are not reading at grade level. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler was questioned about the impact of rising tariffs, proposed SBA budget cuts, and the relocation of SBA offices out of major metropolitan areas. Lawmakers asked whether the SBA would support tariff exemptions for small businesses and how the agency plans to communicate about the effects of tariffs. Loeffler did not provide clear answers on these issues and was noted to oppose tariff exemptions. The committee also discussed the SBA's Red Tape Hotline and the 'Make Onshoring Great Again' program. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer addressed employer-sponsored health care, apprenticeship programs, AI in the workforce, and closing the skills gap. She described efforts to expand apprenticeships, protect employer health plans, and ensure AI adoption does not displace workers. Chavez-DeRemer also discussed recovering misallocated pension funds, supporting workforce development in underserved communities, and addressed concerns about sharing Job Corps data with DOGE.
In today’s @EdWorkforceDems hearing, I questioned the Secretary of Labor about whether she will commit to working with me and my colleagues to ensure parity in employer-sponsored insurance for disabilities caused by behavioral health conditions. https://t.co/TIuX4ldt5O
At today’s @EdWorkforceCmte hearing, I spoke with Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer about the urgent need to re-engage millions of working-age Americans who left the workforce during COVID and haven’t returned. Too many working families are being held back by high childcare https://t.co/eqHHpKQXw1
I have the SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler on tonight. If you’re a small business owner, comment the questions you’d like me to ask her tonight!