Walberg, Tim

Tim Walberg is a Republican representative from Michigan's 5th Congressional District and currently chairs the House Committee on Education and Workforce for the 119th Congress. As committee chair, he controls the panel's agenda, schedules hearings and markups, and determines which education and workforce legislation advances. The committee oversees federal education policy, higher education, workforce development, labor standards, and related social programs—making it one of Congress's most consequential committees for shaping American education and employment policy.

Walberg brings substantial background relevant to his committee role. Born in Chicago in 1951, he served as a pastor in Michigan and Indiana from 1973 to 1977 and later as a division manager for Moody Bible Institute. He spent 16 years in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1999, including service on the Education Committee, and served as president of the Warren Reuther Center for Education and Community Impact. He first entered Congress in 2007, representing Michigan's 7th District before redistricting moved him to the 5th District in 2023. He has served 16 years on the House Education and Workforce Committee before assuming the chairmanship.

As chair, Walberg has focused on education reform and workforce development. He introduced the FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act to streamline federal student aid processes and cosponsored the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act to expand Pell Grant access for short-term training programs. Under his leadership, the committee advanced the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, which was signed into law and is estimated to produce $280 billion in savings through student loan reforms. He has also held high-profile hearings on antisemitism on college campuses and has advocated for expanding apprenticeships and career and technical education programs.

Walberg is known as a political conservative and fiscal reformer. He is currently the Dean of Michigan's congressional delegation and has been recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for legislative effectiveness. His legislative priorities emphasize empowering parents in education decisions, reducing federal regulatory burden on schools, incentivizing workforce training, and supporting American job creators.