Days after SNAP recipients finally received money to shop for groceries, uncertainty returned for many students, parents, and educators.
Last Tuesday, Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon unveiled plans to transfer many Department of Education programs to other agencies—an unprecedented and illegal move that would send class sizes soaring, gut job-training opportunities, and make post-secondary education even less attainable.
“Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures,” NEA President Becky Pringle said.
Meanwhile, Congress has a lot to do and little time to get it done.
On Jan. 30, funding again runs out for most of the federal government. Nine of the 12 full-year funding bills are still outstanding, and the House and the Senate are far apart on topline spending figures.
Looming threats include the loss of access to affordable health care.
On Jan. 1, premiums are set to more than double, on average, for the 24 million Americans who buy health insurance on Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The continuing resolution that ended the shutdown promises a vote on the issue in the Senate, but not the House.
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate community, fellowship, and family. Enjoy the holiday and keep telling Congress what you think!
In Solidarity,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
National Education Association
This bipartisan bill addresses the urgent need for more school-based mental health professionals, including counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
CHEER:Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Alma Adams (D-NC) led a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon expressing concern that the Office of Postsecondary Education is now nearly empty and unable to properly support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
CHEER:Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) led a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel demanding a briefing on a memo urging ICE and other law enforcement officials to “adequately identify themselves” when engaging with the public.
CHEER:Reps. Sarah McBride (D-DE) and Mark Takano (D-CA) led 213 members of Congress in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson condemning the rise in anti-transgender rhetoric and urging the enforcement of the House’s rules of decorum.
CHEER:Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) opposed the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education, condemning it as an “effort to circumvent the law by dumping critical programs onto other agencies simply because there are not sufficient votes in Congress to eliminate the Department.”
CHEER:Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)opposed the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education by transferring its programs to other agencies. “I will not allow it,” he said. “And I urge all of my colleagues to stand with me.”
CHEER:Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) participated in an NEA webinar on the adverse consequences of the Trump regime’s widespread ICE abductions, harassment, and intimidation of our communities.
