Senator Markey, Colleagues Demand Education Department Withdraw Proposed Rule Gutting Equity Assistance Centers

Letter Text (PDF)

Boston (August 11, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today wrote to Linda McMahon, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, condemning the agency's efforts to gut the Equity Assistance Centers (EACs), which provide free technical assistance to school districts, states, and communities to prepare, adopt, and implement plans to desegregate public schools in compliance with federal civil rights law.

The Department of Education's decision to dismantle the EACs with its proposed rule, "Rescinding the Equity Assistance Center Program Regulations," upends a longstanding congressionally funded program and joins similar actions from the Administration in destroying civil rights enforcement infrastructure. As a result, schools, students, and parents will be left without these resources at a time of persistent segregation and growing inequality.

Cosigners of the letter include Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, "As with other efforts to erode federal civil rights oversight and enforcement, ED's proposed rule is 'like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.' While the rule claims to offer 'flexibility' in desegregation compliance efforts, the Administration's actions reveal that its goal is to throw away the umbrella, not find a raincoat instead. We urge the Department to withdraw this proposed rule, ensure that the federal government upholds the civil rights of all students, and work to ensure all students can attend schools that are not segregated."

Senator Markey has long been a leading champion for public education and supporting students. Most recently:

• On July 30, 2026, Senator Markey re-introduced his Green New Deal for Public Schools Act which would infuse $1.6 trillion into public schools to upgrade infrastructure, invest $250 billion in hiring thousands of new teachers and education support staff, fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and quadruple funding for schools serving predominantly low-income students, creating 1.3 million American jobs.

• On June 23, 2026, Senator Markey introduced his Providing Understanding of Paraprofessionals in Learning (PUPIL) Act, which would commission a study on paraprofessionals to provide educators, lawmakers, and advocates with the data necessary to understand these critical workers and the ways they support student outcomes.

• On June 11, 2026, Senator Markey introduced his Child Safety and Well-Being Act to advocate for and protect children in federal policymaking. The legislation would establish an independent commission to promote the interests of children and marginalized youth and ensure that their interests are protected and advanced in federal policy.

• On July 24, 2025, Senator Markey introduced the Pay Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Act, legislation that would create $25 billion in annual federal funding for schools that set a minimum wage for school staff of $45,000 per year, or $30 per hour.

• On February 27, 2025, Senator Markey introduced the No Cuts to Public Schools Act, which would prevent any cuts to federal education formula funding during the Trump administration.

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