All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd Condemns Trump’s Unlawful and Harmful Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education
March 20, 2025
Contact: Enrique A. Chaurand
Email: echaurand@all4ed.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education—an unlawful and reckless move coupled with the removal of nearly half of the Department’s workforce in recent weeks continues to threaten educational opportunity and undermine the future of millions of students. Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed, issued the following statement in response:
“Following weeks of chaos and uncertainty for students, educators, and families nationwide, President Trump’s executive order today continues his harmful, and unpopular, campaign against federal education supports for all students. The President’s Executive Order is not only unauthorized but also a dangerous political stunt. Only Congress has the authority to close a federal agency—a fact even Secretary McMahon acknowledged during her confirmation hearing. School districts and schools nationwide are already reeling from the administration’s reduction in force (RIF) actions, which not only cut Department staff in half, but essentially eliminated many critical offices, including the Office for Civil Rights, and the Institute for Education Sciences. Fully eliminating the Department would further destabilize our education system, leaving millions of students, educators, and families without critical resources and protections. These actions harm rural communities, schools with the greatest need, and students pursuing college and career pathways, jeopardizing our nation’s future.”
“Our new reality, after the painful cuts, means that students and families have nowhere to go when their civil rights are infringed upon. Critical research and institutional knowledge that serves children and educators is lost to us with the decimation of key offices like the Office of English Language Acquisition.”
“President Trump, Secretary McMahon and the governors who stood beside them are attempting to rob our children of their right to a public education. They have opened the door to siphoning our tax dollars to private schools who will get to pick and choose who they educate and bar access to students with disabilities, students whose family’s religious beliefs do not align with theirs, students who speak a language other than English at home, students who live in America’s farmlands, and countless others.”
“Let’s be clear: When Trump and his allies claim they are giving back education to the states, it’s nothing more than a political talking point. The reality is that states already control their education systems. Well before Trump set foot in the White House, federal law already included very specific prohibitions against overreach from the federal government. The Department of Education does not set curricula, determine state standards, or dictate enrollment, graduation or teacher qualification requirements. When Trump and his allies claim they are ‘giving control back to the states,’ they are lying to the American people– because states already have that control. Teachers educate our students, not the Department of Education.
“What the Department does do is provide essential funding and oversight to ensure every child—no matter their background, zip code, or income—has access to a quality public education. It supports 26 million students from low-income families, 7.4 million students with disabilities, 5 million English learners, and 6.6 million aspiring college students who rely on federal grants. It sustains rural schools that serve 9.8 million students with limited local funding. It administers vital programs like Title I, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and Pell Grants and fosters innovation through discretionary grants. The president’s actions dismantle key safeguards leaving millions of students vulnerable.”
“All4Ed’s recent national poll found that 58% of voters—including a plurality of Republicans—oppose eliminating the Department of Education. In fact, 56% support increasing federal investment in our public schools. Among all voters, more than two-thirds choose funding for public schools over vouchers, as do an even higher share of parents – 70% – the same parents that the Trump administration claims to hope to empower. The message is clear: Americans want leaders who strengthen education, not sabotage it.”
“We agree that reforms are needed, but dismantling the Department is not the answer. Rather than taking a scalpel to make thoughtful improvements, this approach swings a chainsaw recklessly, cutting essential support that millions of students rely on. This executive order is just the latest in a pattern of attacks on public education, from attempts to defund schools to efforts to weaken civil rights protections. Instead of using education as a political weapon, we should be working to ensure that every student—regardless of their background—has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success.
“All4Ed will continue fighting against efforts to roll back progress and will work to reimagine how the Department of Education can more effectively advance equity, excellence, and innovation for the future of our nation’s students.”
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