ICYMI: Warren Highlights Impact of Education Department’s Dismantling on Students, Calls on Congress to Act

ICYMI: Warren Highlights Impact of Education Department's Dismantling on Students, Calls on Congress to Act

Warren: "No nation is a great nation if it shortchanges its children."

Video of Exchange (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in a forum held by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) titled "Dismantling Education: What the Trump Administration's Illegal Attacks on Federal Programs Mean for Students, Families, and Educators," highlighted the impacts of Education Secretary Linda McMahon's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) on students and pushed for Congress to act.

"The Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the Education Department are an attack on public education and public schools," said Senator Warren. "I'm fighting to ensure every kid, no matter their zip code or how much money their family makes, has a shot at a quality education."

Last month, Secretary McMahon announced plans to further dismantle ED by moving multiple responsibilities of the agency to four other federal departments - including by moving the administration of Title I funding, which provides $18 billion annually to K-12 schools, to the Department of Labor. Ms. Rachel Gittleman, Local 252 American Federation of Government Employees President, warned of "chaos and harm" if the transfer proceeds. She explained that earlier this year, Career and Technical Education programs were moved to the Department of Labor, leading to significant delays, turmoil for grantees, and uncertainty for students.

Senator Warren also criticized the Trump administration's attempt to fire nearly every person working in the special education office at the Department of Education. Mr. Chad Rummel, Executive Director of the Council for Exceptional Children, emphasized ongoing "imminent threats" to the Office of Special Education, warning that ED was planning to soon transfer this office as well.

Ms. Denise Forte, President and CEO of The Education Trust, stressed that Congress must ensure that upcoming appropriations bills contain provisions blocking programs from being transferred out of ED. . Ms. Forte's organization recently led a letter alongside over 80 education and civil rights groups urging Congress to "reclaim its authority and prevent this unprecedented and drastic transfer of authority."

Senator Warren concluded the hearing by encouraging "everybody who cares about this issue" to push for Congress to block the dismantling of ED through the appropriations process, stating, "No nation is a great nation if it shortchanges its children."

Senator Warren has led the fight to make our higher education system more affordable, cancel student loan debt, and hold student loan servicers accountable for incompetence and malfeasance. She launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump's attempts to abolish the Department of Education.

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