{"id":40467,"date":"2025-03-21T12:12:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T19:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=40467"},"modified":"2025-03-21T12:12:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T19:12:48","slug":"trumps-newest-target-the-department-of-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/03\/21\/trumps-newest-target-the-department-of-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump’s newest target: The Department of Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Today, Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to eliminate the Department of Education. Emphasis on “aims to.”<\/em> Trump cannot unilaterally abolish a federal department created by Congress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be clear about what this executive order will do: it instructs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to facilitate the department’s closure while playing legal tricks to avoid a court making them stop. This approach indicates that the executive order is a preliminary<\/em> step toward dismantling the department, setting the stage for further actions rather than causing an immediate shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump’s goal here is to weaken the department (and thus public education), starve it of resources, and scatter its programs to other agencies so that Congressional Republicans can claim the Department of Education is “functionally obsolete” and fire the kill shot with legislation abolishing the DOE. <\/strong>We saw this process begin two weeks ago, when the administration laid off half of the department\u2019s staff<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So — even though this began with executive actions, it has to end with Congress. And that means we need to maximize pressure on Congress — in particular on Congressional Republicans — so they understand there will be an unimaginable political cost for this assault on students and teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past Republican efforts to abolish the department have failed, but this remains a long-term GOP goal, particularly under Project 2025. Lawsuits are already being filed against this order. While they make their way through the courts, we have to organize to save public education in America. Skip to the end for a list of \u2018to-dos\u2019 or read on for more info. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would eliminating the Department of Education mean for students, teachers, and families? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without the Department of Education, millions of students and families will face immediate consequences. Public schools will struggle to maintain quality instruction as federal funding disappears, leaving states to decide how — or if — they will replace those dollars. The most brutal hit will be on students from lower-income families, those with disabilities, and those attending already underfunded schools. Among the immediate consequences: <\/p>\n\n\n\n