Degrees b 19 in the sixties and 60 degrees by 1960 ...2 c1 3 b13 good evening.

Thanks for joining us for 41nbc news at 5:30.

I'm tucker sargent starting our newscast tonight at 5:30.

President trump is backing off his administratin's proposal to remove funding for the special olympics, after controversy over the original proposal.

Mary persons high school hosted the monroe county special olympics where students, staff and parents celebrated the fact that the budget cuts did not pass.

The announcement reversed the previously proposed cut of $18 million dollars in government funding for the games.

Education secretary betsy devos now says she is pleased and grateful the president decided to finance the special olympics.

Parents and staff at the monroe county special olympics today were worried about the cuts, but are glad they did not pass.

It was definitely a concern, however we are very blessed in forsyth and in monroe county that our local games are funded by the public and they definitely work to support us.

More than a hundred athletes from from elementary to high school, hear from some of them tonight during 41nbc news at 6.

Education secretary betsy devos has been under fire all week..

Over those proposed budget cuts that would eliminate federal funding for the program.

But yesterday, a surprising 180 from the president, himself.

Hallie jackson has that story.

Stephanie ching / special olympian (:50-:55) new reaction to a *rare *reversal this morning... after an unexpected - and *emphatic - about-face.

Hallie: why cut money for the special olympics?

Why would you cut funding for that?

Trump: i've been to the special olympics and i think it's incredible and i just authorized a funding.

I heard about it this morning, i have overridden my people" even the special olympics seemed surprised... (gfx) with a top official telling nbc news - " "i didn't see this coming a all.

They've had this position for three straight years now."

Adding - "it says a lot abou hearing the stories of our athletes and supporters."

(gfx out) sot - shriver (twitter video) i wanna thank the president for responding to your voices - that's how democracy is supposed to work, and guess what it worked!

It worked because of you!"

(show special olympians speaking out this week - twitter, tv/cnn) those athletes - and their advocates... using their voices... sot - stephanie ching i was so sad and i really worry about not cutting all the funding and all the money out.

As education secretary betsy devos used *hers to defend the proposal... which looked to cut to nearly 18-million dollars in federal funding.

Durbin: whoever came up with -- whoever came up with that idea at omb gets a special olympic gold medal for insensitivity.

/// devos: let's not use disabled children in a twisted way for your political narrative.

That is just disgusting and it's shameful.

Devos had become the face of the controversy - publicly backing her boss's budget for *days... including in *this viral moment *tuesday.

(from pocan/devos/aired wednesday am) pocan/tuesday: "i have 2 nephew with autism.

What is it that we have a problem with, with children who are in special education?

// devos: "i think that the specia olympics is an awesome organization, one that is well supported by the philanthropic sector as well."

(gfx) that congressman - mark pocan - *now referencing how the president *undercut his own cabinet secretary... asking - "can someone pull bets from under the bus?"

(gfx out) devos - for her part - has pointed to *personal donations she's made to the special olympics... and is *now