House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Thursday he disagrees with the requested funding cuts to the Special Olympics in President Trump’s budget proposal.

“No. I fully support Special Olympics,” McCarthy told reporters during a press conference when asked whether he supports the provision.

{mosads}The proposal for the Department of Education to slash $17.6 million from the sports program, about 10 percent of the group’s overall funding, was met with pushback from a number of members on both sides of the aisle.

McCarthy’s comments came as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos defended the proposed cuts while testifying before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on education.

DeVos said that while she supports the Special Olympics, she had to make some “difficult decisions,” telling the panel that “the federal government cannot fund every worthy program, particularly ones that enjoy robust support from private donations.”

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has also spoken out against the request, saying it’s unlikely the cuts to the program for people with disabilities will become a reality.

“I’m a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics and proud that Missouri is home to the largest Special Olympics training facility in the world,” he said in a statement. “I was just at the World Games and saw, as I have many times before, what a huge impact the organization has on athletes, their families, and their communities. Our Department of Education appropriations bill will not cut funding for the program.”