UnidosUS Condemns Trump Administration’s Dangerous Action to Dismantle U.S. Department of Education

on

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education’s staff and structure, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía issued the following statement: 

“The Trump administration’s action to essentially eviscerate the Department of Education is yet another short-sighted, reckless and destructive decision that will shortchange the future well-being of all Americans. The public education system is one of our country’s greatest accomplishments and a key reason for our nation’s success. Endangering the education of millions of American children — the future generations on which our future depends — is inexplicable and inexcusable. 

“Trump and Elon Musk’s actions threaten decades of progress, setting the country back to a time when states lacked consistent standards to ensure quality education nationwide. As an organization that represents the families of one in four American students who are Hispanic, UnidosUS demands Congress do its job and protect the programs and services that all Americans rely on to prosper. 

“The Department of Education was created by Congress nearly 50 years ago to make the education of all children a national imperative. It reflected a bipartisan consensus to level the playing field so students in the poorest neighborhoods could get the same educational resources as children in the wealthiest. The Department makes possible crucial services that are provided to students with disabilities, oversees vital federal funding that helps English Learners reach academic proficiency and provides important investments to schools in high-poverty areas, including help to ensure kids don’t go hungry. Without the expertise of the civil servants at the Department of Education to administer these federal funds, millions of students from the largest cities to the most remote rural towns will face greater challenges that will put them further behind their peers. Latinos would be particularly affected, since nearly 40% of Latinos attended high-poverty schools in 2021. 

“Latinos believe in the power of education and that it is foundational to their American dream. The federal government must ensure investments reach those students most in need of support. In a 2024 UnidosUS poll, 60% of Hispanic voters noted that adequate funding for public education was among the most important issues for elected officials to address. The administration’s actions are out of step with U.S. voters in general and what Latinos voted for and send a dangerous signal to Americans that education is no longer a national priority. Latino voters will hold Congress accountable for its actions.” 

###