Texas Democrats, AFGE: Trump’s Attack on Education Department Threatens Students, Workers Across Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Today, Donald Trump signed an executive order to accomplish Project 2025’s objective of dismantling the Department of Education, a reckless decision that threatens funding for public schools, financial aid for students, and could eliminate essential protections for millions of children across Texas.
This effort by Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, an anti-union billionaire who gave $10 million to the Trump campaign, will only embolden the Texas Republicans currently pushing a private school voucher bill to strip public schools of even more funding.
“In their attacks on education, Donald Trump and Greg Abbott attack the heart of Texas itself. Our children deserve classrooms that nurture their minds, not pad private pockets. Texas Democrats will defend your neighborhood schools because the next generation of Texans, regardless of background or circumstance, deserve nothing less,” said Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu.
"This executive order is a slap in the face to Texas students, teachers, and working families. Public education in this country is the very backbone of opportunity, and dismantling the Department of Education and enacting a school voucher scam will devastate schools across Texas, especially in rural and low-income communities that rely on taxpayer support,” said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa. “Texas Democrats will fight back against this appalling decision and keep working to make sure every child, regardless of their zip code, has access to a quality education.”
“AFGE is the fastest growing union in Texas – when Trump and his billionaire friends like Elon Musk attack the Department of Education, they’re coming after teachers, students, and workers across the state of Texas,” said AFGE Local 252 President Sheria Smith. “Haphazardly terminating thousands of federal employees won’t strengthen our schools, it will threaten the funding that keeps them going. It won’t empower workers, it will damage their livelihoods and impact their families’ futures. These attacks on hardworking public servants need to stop – now.”
Trump’s executive order to dismantle DOE hurts Texas:
Texas receives nearly 20% of its public school funding from the Department of Education for programs that support low-income school districts, students with disabilities, and more.
Career and technical education could be in jeopardy after the Texas Workforce Commission received $83 million from the Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which the state of Texas has violated previously, is enforced by the Department of Education.
Texas Republicans already slashed $600m in funding to support disabled students last year.
Title I funding provides funding for additional education resources at schools primarily serving low-income homes – and Texas stands to lose almost $2 billion dollars if it’s revoked.
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