Grijalva, Kelly Blast Trump Administration’s Push for National School Voucher Scheme
Friday, October 16, 2026
Tucson, AZ — Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva and Senator Mark Kelly condemned new Treasury Department regulations advancing a national school voucher scheme created under Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, warning that Arizona’s experience with universal school vouchers shows exactly what happens when taxpayer dollars are diverted to private schools without adequate oversight.
The Treasury Department recently released regulations implementing the federal school voucher tax credit established under H.R. 1. The program provides a tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to eligible scholarship-granting organizations, including organizations supporting private and religious schools. The new regulations would double the credit for married couples.
In response, Senator Kelly introduced the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, which would repeal the voucher scheme created under H.R. 1. Rep. Grijalva alongside Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) introduced the same legislation in the House.
“Arizona’s fraud-ridden school voucher program should serve as a warning to the rest of the country,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Instead, the Trump Administration is moving full steam ahead with a national voucher scheme while failing to include even basic safeguards to prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted or abused. Congress must act to ensure taxpayer dollars strengthen the public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of America’s children, rather than subsidize privatization schemes rife with fraud.”
“Arizona is a clear example of the consequences of diverting taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers: fraud, benefits going to families who can already afford private school, and public schools losing funds they desperately need. Not to mention a giant hole blown in our budget,” said Sen. Kelly. “Now, the Trump administration wants to take that same approach nationwide. We should be investing in public schools that serve all kids, not expanding a voucher program that risks more waste and abuse.”
Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program now costs taxpayers more than $1 billion annually and has faced repeated allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse.
In one case, two out-of-state individuals pleaded guilty to creating dozens of fictitious “ghost students” and using forged documents to obtain more than $110,000 in taxpayer-funded voucher dollars. Other reporting has found voucher funds used for questionable purchases, including Disneyland trips, diamond rings, and lingerie.
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Issues:
Public Education