AFT President Weingarten Opposes Trump's Plan to Eliminate Education Dept.

WASHINGTON—Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has responded to recent media reports about a draft executive order by Donald Trump that proposes the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education.

According to Weingarten, the Department of Education's primary role is to equalize educational opportunities and address opportunity gaps to help every American child thrive. She criticized the attempt to dismantle the department, suggesting it indicates a lack of commitment to providing opportunities for all children, beyond those of Trump's family, friends, and donors.

Weingarten acknowledged a general dislike for bureaucracy and a desire for increased efficiency. However, she warned against using a "war on woke" to target underprivileged children and those with disabilities to fund vouchers and tax cuts for the wealthy. She emphasized that public opinion, as reflected in polling data, is strongly against the closure of the department.

The Department of Education is responsible for distributing essential funds to various programs, including those aiding 26 million children in poverty through Title I, 7.5 million students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 10 million students in need of financial aid for higher education through Pell grants, and 12 million students benefiting from career and technical education via Perkins grants. Weingarten asserted that any efforts to undermine these programs would be met with staunch opposition.

She also criticized the notion of transferring decision-making power solely to the states, arguing that local school boards, funded primarily by states and districts, already handle such responsibilities. From curriculum approval to graduation decisions, local governance is well-established.

Weingarten advocated for the enhancement of public education by expanding career and technical education (CTE) and aligning curricula with apprenticeships to help students secure middle-class jobs post-high school. This stance was supported by educators, students, and parents who gathered at over 2,000 Protect Our Kids events nationwide.

She urged Congress to communicate to the president that the federal government will not abandon its duty to children, students, and working families, who deserve opportunities for promising futures rather than reduced aspirations.

# # # #

The AFT represents 1.8 million members, including educators from pre-K to 12th grade, paraprofessionals, school personnel, higher education staff, government employees, nurses, healthcare workers, and early childhood educators.