Illegally Firing Department of Education Staff Undercuts Chance of Realizing American Dream

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro issued the following statement on President Trump’s action to unlawfully eliminate Education employees’ positions:

“Growing up, my parents emphasized that getting an education was the most essential foundation for one day achieving the American dream. And so I did. Like so many other Americans, access to a good public school was the key to living a life that was different than my parents’. 

“Elon Musk and President Trump have no idea how the majority of the country lives. They do not understand the importance of public education to the success of America’s children. The Department of Education—created by an act of Congress, funded by appropriations bills passed by Congress and signed into law—ensures that, no matter the wealth their family does or does not have, or whether they have a disability or other disadvantage, every single child has the opportunity to obtain an education. Today’s staff eliminations are illegal, and they are a slap in the face to the dedicated public servants who work to make sure American children have access to a quality education. Every generation of Americans has counted on public education for hope that hard work will translate into their children being able to realize the American Dream. What we cannot do and will not do is retreat from our children’s education altogether.  

“The Department of Education supports all stages of student learning, from the 25 million elementary and secondary students who have teachers in their classrooms thanks to Title I funding to the 7 million students that rely on Pell Grants to pay for college. Elon Musk and President Trump want nothing more than to abandon our obligations to America’s children and families. No president or member of the executive branch has the authority to end public education, violate the law, and unilaterally steal dollars promised to students. To my Republican colleagues: if you want to eliminate the Department of Education, then put your name on a bill to do that. Let your constituents see it. Let us debate it. Let us and the American people deliberate. Do not yield our authority, and the rule of law, to unchecked billionaires.” 

Here is a statement Ranking Member DeLauro issued on Elon Musk’s and President Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education in February.

Here are previously released fact sheets on the impacts proposed House Republican funding cuts would have on each state. 

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