Last week, President Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—official acknowledgment of what is already happening in plain sight.

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk have aimed their wrecking ball at public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America, by dismantling public education to pay for tax handouts for billionaires,” said NEA President Becky Pringle.

“If successful,” she continued, “Trump’s continued actions will hurt all students by sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training programs, making higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle class families, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and gutting student civil rights protections.”

The executive order came on the heels of thousands of walk-ins, held last week in support of strong public schools and other protections students and communities need to thrive. NEA President Becky Pringle and NEA leaders participated, along with educators, parents, families, students, and community leaders across the country.

Eliminating the Department of Education is just one element of the administration’s plan to provide $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires, paid for by $1.7 trillion in spending cuts in programs for ordinary people and a $2.8 trillion increase in the deficit.

Despite GOP claims to the contrary, the numbers show that a big share of the spending cuts—as much as $880 billion—will come from Medicaid/CHIP, which provides health coverage for 38 million children and 1 in 10 education support professionals. School meals and student loans are also on the chopping block.

When Congress returns from recess this week, the GOP will resume work on legislation to turn its vision into law. Tell your senators and representative what you think!

In solidarity,