Sen. Hirono: “Through his attempt to abolish the Department of Education, Donald Trump will continue his focus on crippling our government and sow chaos in schools and communities across the country by eliminating crucial programs that our children rely on.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement condemning President Trump’s executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education:
“A strong public education system is critical to our country’s economic success, our global competitiveness, and Americans’ quality of life. Through his attempt to abolish the Department of Education, Donald Trump will continue his focus on crippling our government and sow chaos in schools and communities across the country by eliminating crucial programs that our children rely on. These programs support low-income students and students with disabilities, help to prevent discrimination in the classroom, provide meals for kids in need, and ensure access to quality education for every student in our nation.
“Trump’s executive order will do nothing to support our students or increase government efficiency. Trump and Elon Musk have decided to sabotage our children’s futures in order to pay for massive tax cuts for their billionaire buddies. As they continue their attempts to gut crucial government functions, we must do everything in our power to protect our students, educators, and families from this chaos.”
Broadly, the Department of Education (ED) is responsible for managing federal programs that support students from early childhood, to K-12, to college and career and beyond. ED’s responsibilities include promoting early childhood programs, supporting low-income students, students with disabilities and students experiencing homelessness, and administering federal student aid—including federal student loans, Pell Grants, and Federal Work Study. In addition, the Department also collects and tracks data on student achievement to help states, school districts, and others improve educational outcomes for students.
Abolishing the Department requires an act of Congress. However, Trump has already begun to take steps to undermine ED’s functions by significantly cutting funding for the Department and attempting to fire thousands of ED employees, effectively halving the Department’s workforce. Earlier this month, ED sent an email offering $25,000 to agency personnel to quit their jobs. Last month, the Trump administration cut $600 million in grants for teacher training programs, putting a further strain on rural school systems with significant teacher shortages. The Administration also terminated nearly $900 million in contracts overseen by ED’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which gathers and disseminates data on teaching practices and the status of U.S. student achievement. IES’ research is utilized by educators, state and local departments of education, colleges, and more.
Senator Hirono is committed to improving opportunities for students and helping to ensure that our youth receive the quality education they deserve. This week, Senator Hirono joined ten of her colleagues in urging Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to immediately restore all fired Federal Student Aid (FSA) employees responsible for reviewing student aid complaints and refrain from taking any measures to deter the submission of complaints. Last month, Senator Hirono took to the Senate floor to speak out against McMahon’s nomination to serve as the next Secretary of Education. During her speech, Senator Hirono raised concerns with Mrs. McMahon’s lack of qualifications to lead the Department and her unwavering loyalty to President Trump in helping to execute the plan laid out in Project 2025, including completely abolishing ED. Earlier that month, Senator Hirono sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter, raising concerns about the Department’s response to inquiries by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) requesting access to millions of student loan borrowers’ personal data. In January, Senator Hirono also reintroduced the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, legislation to put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis.
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