President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a proposed $18 million cut in Special Olympics funding has been withdrawn.
"The Special Olympics will be funded, I just told my people," Trump said outside the White House.
The president's announcement comes after his education secretary, Betsy DeVos, wasgrilled by congressional Democratsin two hearings this week over a proposal to eliminate all federal funding for the Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics is largely funded by private donations but receives $18 million a year in federal funds that the organization said it uses for school programs for students with disabilities.
DeVos expressed support of the budget change after the president's announcement.
“I am pleased and grateful the president and I see eye-to-eye on this issue, and that he has decided to fund our Special Olympics grant. This is funding I have fought for behind-the-scenes over the last several years.”
Hours prior to Trump's announcement Thursday, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois lambasted DeVos before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
View the full story on NBC