CNY policymakers react to President Trump’s DOEd shutdown
New York politicians condemned President Trump’s order to dismantle the Department of Education, warning it will negatively impact students and teachers. It seeks to transfer educational power to states and cut federal resources. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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New York politicians condemned President Donald Trump’s Thursday executive order to dismantle the United States Department of Education. Officials said the order will harm students, educators and the overall quality of education, both in New York state and nationwide.
Under the order, funding that the DOEd traditionally allocated is set to be distributed by lawmakers at the state level, the Associated Press reported. Most of that funding went to classroom necessities and assisted students who are low-income, non-English speakers, or disabled.
John Mannion, the representative for New York’s 22nd Congressional District, called the order “not only illegal but shortsighted,” and warned of chaos across America’s public education system in a Thursday statement.
“Donald Trump’s attempt to marginalize education, cut funding for the next generation of Americans, and erode trust in our public schools is not putting America first – it is putting America last,” Mannion, a former high school teacher, wrote.
The DOEd oversees more than 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the U.S. It provides grants for school programs, including for replacing outdated infrastructure, funding arts and culture extracurriculars and paying teachers who teach students with disabilities.
On Thursday, Mannion wrote that students will face larger class sizes, fewer mental health resources, reduced faculty and less summer learning programs under the order.
In February, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand warned that over 2.6 million students across state public schools could lose critical funding if the department is fully shut down. Gillibrand said the order gives states the authority to withhold funds from programs that Trump is targeting, like school DEIA initiatives.
“Make no mistake – individual states simply do not have the funding, personnel, or expertise to provide this same level of support to millions of students,” Gillibrand said Thursday.
Gillibrand also said the DOEd’s elimination would pull funding from teacher education and training programs, forcing schools to continue with fewer and less prepared teachers, counselors, behavior specialists and social workers.
On March 11, Trump announced cuts to nearly half of DOEd’s employees through a combination of layoffs and “voluntary buyouts,” CNN reported. The administration placed the remaining employees on administrative leave starting Friday, according to the DOEd’s website.
The president also directed DOEd Secretary Linda McMahon to reallocate the department’s responsibilities to other federal departments, including moving the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio to the Small Business Administration. Resources for students with disabilities and school nutrition programs will be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services, CNN reported.
“This horrible decision by Donald Trump will be felt by teachers, parents, school leaders, and in the quality of education our children receive, “ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a Thursday statement. “Presidents cannot make departments and they cannot eliminate them either, only Congress can do that.”
Schumer called the order “destructive and devastating,” saying it will increase property taxes for New Yorkers as states will now need to make up for lost federal school funding. He encouraged courts to prevent what he called a “tyrannical power grab.”
The order will not eliminate FAFSA or other sources of federal student funding, but aims to limit the DOEd by only keeping its “basic” functions, including administering student loans and Pell Grants to low-income students, according to Reuters.
It also won’t impact department activities for those who fall under Title I funding, which provides supplemental financial aid to schools with a higher percentage of students from low-income families, NBC reported.
Congress must approve Trump’s order to fully eliminate the department, NBC reported. Trump has already directed the DOEd to find and punish colleges and universities that are continuing to implement diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs.
Columbia University recently accepted demands from the Trump administration, which forced the school to change its admissions and student discipline policies in order to maintain $400 million in federal grants, the New York Times reported.
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud addressed recent changes in the DOEd at Wednesday’s University Senate meeting. He said SU remains in a “strong position” amid funding cuts across higher institutions. University administrators are also reviewing programs to ensure compliance with federal policies, according to a March 6 campus-wide email.
Gillibrand said gutting the DOEd and top academic institutions will deprive American students of critical programs that prepare them for stable careers and incomes.
“Every child in this country – regardless of background – has the right to a high-quality and free public education,” Gillibrand said.
