Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s Executive Order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education:
“A great nation is only as strong as the education of its people. The Department of Education plays a vital role in ensuring that every child – regardless of their background, where they live, or their ability – has access to a quality education. It enforces civil rights protections, provides support for students with disabilities, and helps millions of families afford higher education. Trump’s decision to dismantle the Department of Education is not just reckless – it is a direct assault on the future of our children, our economic competitiveness, and our country.
“Trump is wholly unqualified to make this decision. He has never attended a public school, sent his children to one, relied on federal student aid, or contributed in any meaningful way to strengthening public education. He has no understanding of the challenges that students, teachers, and parents face every day, yet he is using our children’s futures as pawns in his ideological games.
“This is not just a misguided policy choice. It is an act of deliberate sabotage. Eliminating the Department of Education will strip away critical protections for students, jeopardize funding for public schools, and leave millions of children – especially those from low-income families and marginalized communities – without the resources they need to succeed. It would unravel decades of progress in ensuring equal access to education and protections for students with disabilities.
“This reckless move threatens the futures of 50 million K-12 students, including 6.7 million in California. It would mean larger class sizes, fewer resources for teachers, and an education system that abandons those who need it most.
“Eliminating the Department of Education will also put 87 million students and parents at risk of losing the federal student aid they rely on to afford higher education, and it could result in many young people forgoing higher education in much needed fields, like engineering and medicine, harming our economic competitiveness, exacerbating the problems employers face finding qualified candidates.
“Time and time again, Trump has shown his disdain for public education – whether by pushing to defund schools, undermining teachers, or disregarding the needs of working families. His decision to dismantle the very agency responsible for ensuring equal educational opportunities is not just dangerous, but a complete abdication of leadership.
“This is not about politics. It’s about the fundamental promise of America – that every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. I refuse to stand by while Trump, a man who has never lifted a finger to support public schools, destroys the institutions that make the American Dream possible. I will fight relentlessly to protect our public schools, defend students’ rights, and ensure that education remains a national priority – not a casualty of reckless ideology.”
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Issues: 119th Congress, Education