On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign pledge to shrink the federal role in public education.
The order directs newly appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”
While Congress would need to approve any formal shutdown, education experts warn that eliminating the department would disproportionately harm vulnerable students, especially students of color.
Several Illinois political and education leaders released statements condemning the move on Thursday.
Statement from Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton
“To attack our nation’s education system, to strip resources out of the hands of our children, to demolish a system that was already cracking under the weight we stacked upon it, is nothing short of disgusting.
This is another piece of the Trump Administration’s chaos agenda. Disruption and confusion are the point. And if this proposed unlawful dismantling of the Department of Education system actually happens, there’s no doubt in my mind that the repercussions will be felt for years.
Our most vulnerable will feel the effects first: students with disabilities who are supported by 504 plans, special education, or individualized education plans will suffer. High-poverty Title 1 schools will close. Student loan borrowers will be left with unanswered questions. Pell Grant recipients will lose funding.
The consequences will be devastating.
But make no mistake—when you come for our students, you come for us all. I am not deterred by this. I am fired up. We’ve seen it before, we’ve fought back before, and we are ready to do it again.”
Statement from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin:
“President Trump’s dangerous demagoguery knows no bounds. Shredding the Department of Education, a federal agency dedicated to the success of the next generation, is depraved and deeply damaging to the future of this country.
Trump’s formula for American greatness: Eliminate federal aid to schools and cut medical research. What a fool.”
Statement from U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth:
“We should be doing all we can to strengthen our education system—
Not dismantling a Department that supports the future of our children, workforce and economy.
With this EO, Trump is proving he cares more about carving out billionaire tax cuts than he does supporting our kids.”
Statement from Attorney General Kwame Raoul:
“President Trump’s executive order is no more legal than his other actions intended to dismantle the Department of Education. Decimating the department’s workforce, then signing today’s executive order while simultaneously directing the continuation of critical programs and services is ludicrous.
“States, including Illinois, are already feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s actions. On March 11, all staff in a Chicago branch of the department’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) were laid off, completely closing the office. For decades, the OCR has protected American students’ civil rights – from ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to classrooms, to protecting students from discrimination and harassment. Students who could previously rely on the OCR to address potential violations of their civil rights must now go to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which is already experiencing a higher call volume for such disputes. Yet ISBE has neither the funding nor the equipment to resolve them.
“Furthermore, millions of students count on the Department of Education to promptly process requests for student aid as they finalize their postsecondary plans. Enrollment deadlines for Illinois’ public community colleges and universities approach in a few short weeks, and the turmoil caused by the administration’s actions jeopardizes the futures of tens of thousands of Illinois students who depend upon the prompt processing of FAFSAs to finalize their plans.
“The Trump administration’s actions are unlawful, unconstitutional and most negatively impact students who have the most need for the Department of Education’s programs and services. I am firmly committed to continuing to fight for all students, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or ability, to have access to quality education and the opportunity it affords.”
“High-quality education is in our nation’s interest. A strong military is our best defense, and a great education system is our best offense. Education should be the ultimate bipartisan, or nonpartisan, issue. Trump’s assault on education is unprecedented in the history of our nation,” said Arne Duncan, Former Secretary of Education and current Managing Partner, Chicago CRED. “The Department of Education serves our nation’s vulnerable children: poor children, rural students, students with special needs, students going to college on Pell Grants, etc. Any attempt to reduce educational opportunity for our students who most need, and deserve, a high-quality education is educationally and morally bankrupt, and must be challenged in every way possible. I am so grateful, and thankful, for Attorney General Raoul’s leadership in fighting for our nation’s children”
Statement from Illinois Education Association President Al Llorens:
“Gutting the U.S. Department of Education means gutting some of the most important programs our public schools provide to the most vulnerable students and that doesn’t make any country greater.
Educators and parents agree that America’s students need more opportunities to succeed and the one way to do that is to strengthen the public schools. Public schools are home to 90 percent of the country’s students and 95 percent of special education students. Public schools are the great equalizer and programs for them should not be cut to give millionaires and billionaires deeper tax cuts. In a country of opportunity like ours, there is no reason to make the rich richer off the backs of our children who need the most services.
No matter where students live in Illinois, DuQuoin to Rockford and the Quad Cities to Effingham, our students deserve the best we have to offer. The federal education department does not guide curriculum in our state. It does not decide what our children will learn. However, it does provide funding for special education programs, food for our neediest children and grants to send our poorest students to college.
We are asking Illinoisans to stand up to protect Illinois’s students. Here are three easy steps:
- Ask your Congressional members to fight back.
- Make this your profile picture on social media.
- Print out this sign and hang it in your window.
What’s happening now is a reverse Robin Hood – taking from the needy to give to the ultra-wealthy. And, we shouldn’t stand for it. We also know that Illinoisans don’t support this idea. Through our annual State of Education in Illinois bipartisan polling, we know:
- 80 percent of our state believes funding for public education should increase.
- 91 percent agree that every child in Illinois has a right to an education at a public school.
- 92 percent believe every child with a disability has the right to a public education in our state.
- Only 11 percent of our state’s adults believe politicians should have any voice in how public schools operate.
Today’s actions are harmful to Illinois students and communities. These cuts harm our children, our students. As the largest education organization in our state, we will continue to fight and we urge other Illinoisans to do the same.”
About Post Author
