Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education in his latest effort to destroy our democracy, indulge Elon Musk, and hurt everyday working communities. This billionaire-led attack comes on the heels of the department laying off nearly half of its workforce just last week. Millions of students, schools, and districts will bear the devastating impact of losing critical standards, support and funding as Trump and his cult of billionaire continue to amass power and wealth.
Karen Fierro Ruiz, Policy and Advocacy Manager of United We Dream, said:
“With the help of WWE founder and now Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a sledgehammer to our country’s classrooms, recklessly putting the lives of millions of students on the line in order to pay for tax handouts to billionaires. The most vulnerable students, including immigrants, low-income students, and students with disabilities, will bear the brunt of Trump and Musk’s billionaire greed. Students will have to endure consequences from increasing class sizes because schools have been forced to shut their doors and consolidate to facing even fewer resources and opportunities for job training, counseling, and access to higher education.
Although this power of elimination ultimately lies in Congress, Trump has made clear that he will go to extremes and infringe on our democracy to turbocharge his crusade on working class people everywhere. By trying to eliminate the Department of Education, Trump and his billionaire allies are setting the terrain to go after the right to education for all students, after all an uneducated public is easier to manipulate. Our Congressional members must do everything to protect all students nationwide and stop Trump from robbing Americans of our freedom to learn!”
