~ Photos of Sen. Hirono’s meeting are available here ~
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) met with leaders from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) to discuss how the Trump Administration’s attacks on K-12 public education have impacted students, educators, and families who rely on federal programs, including Title I, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and school meals. During their meeting, Senator Hirono heard concerns from AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle, regarding what it would mean to eliminate funding for these programs and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a whole, as well as how to best respond to these attacks on students and educators across the country.
“In his attacks on public education, Donald Trump is robbing our children’s futures to pay for massive giveaways to his billionaire buddies,” said Senator Hirono. “The Department of Education plays a critical role in supporting low-income students and students with disabilities, preventing discrimination in classrooms, and ensuring access to services like free school meals and afterschool care programs. Trump’s efforts to gut this Department are already hurting our nation’s students, educators, and families, and sowing chaos that only creates more fear and uncertainty. I’m grateful for the leadership of the AFT and NEA in fighting back against this assault on public education, and I’ll continue working with them to protect and support our students and educators, and continue fighting back against this administration’s reckless attacks on our communities.”
Abolishing the Department of Education requires an act of Congress, but Trump has already taken several steps toward dismantling ED and undermining the department’s functions by significantly cutting funding and downsizing personnel. Last month, Senator Hirono released a statement condemning Trump’s reckless firing of nearly 1,300 employees at ED, cutting its workforce in half. In March, ED also sent an email offering $25,000 to agency personnel to quit their jobs. In February, 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. In February, Senator Hirono took to the Senate floor to speak out against Linda McMahon’s nomination to serve as the next Education Secretary. 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. Also in February, Senator Hirono spoke on the Senate floor to condemn President Trump’s and Republican’s efforts to eliminate the Department of Education and cut crucial federal funding for programs which millions of children and families across the country rely on. In January, Senator Hirono worked with her colleagues to reintroduce 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 IDEA.
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