United States President Donald Trump has claimed to have followed through on his decision to override staff on proposals to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics by pledging $18 million for the organisation in the administration's budget ©Getty Image

United States President Donald Trump has claimed to have followed through on his decision to override staff on proposals to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics by pledging $18 million (£14 million/€16 million) for the organisation in the administration's budget.

Trump's reversal in March came a day after American Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was criticised for defending proposals to cut $18 million in funding for Special Olympics, which provides sport for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

He has now taken to social media to confirm it, amid other updates to his budget.

"Today, I officially updated my budget to include $18 million for our GREAT @SpecialOlympics, whose athletes inspire us and make our Nation so PROUD!" Trump tweeted.

Special Olympics retweeted Trump's tweet with a comment that reads: "The work we do in schools is changing the lives of not only students with intellectual disabilities, but their peers who are impacted through their experiences in an inclusive school community. 

"We are proud to continue this work."

An administration official told CNN the White House had sent a budget amendment to congressional lawmakers.

"The administration sent Congress a budget amendment to account for spending request adjustments, which is part of the normal budget process," the official said.

DeVos, 61, had previously appeared in front of a Subcommittee to explain the overall proposed budget of the Department of Education for the next fiscal year.

Trump had proposed funds of $4.7 trillion (£3.6 trillion/€4.2 trillion), which would still mean a cut of $7 billion (£5.4 billion/€6.2 billion).

Wisconsin representative Mark Pocan told DeVos that 270,000 children would be impacted by cuts to funding.

DeVos initially responded by saying "difficult decisions" had to be made and argued the organisation could be backed by philanthropy.

She has donated a portion of her salary to the Special Olympics.

Following Trump’s reversal, DeVos moved to clarify the contradiction.

"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," she said in a statement.

"This is funding I have fought for behind the scenes over the past several years."

The Subcommittee was led by the Democratic Party, which controls the House of Representatives.

It meant much of the budget was likely to fail to pass Congress anyway.