Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Dismantling of U.S. Department of Education

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Dismantling of U.S. Department of Education 

Massachusetts receives over $2 billion in federal education funding a year and cannot fully replace these funds if cut by Trump Administration 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is sounding the alarm about Donald Trump's executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. 

“We’re proud that Massachusetts has the best schools in the nation – and it’s why we know that shutting down the U.S. Department of Education is bad for students, teachers and schools,” said Governor Maura Healey. “President Trump claims he wants to give power back to the states, but as a Governor, I know that the way to do that is not gutting the programs and funding that our students rely on. It makes no sense. This will mean bigger class sizes, cancelled after school programs and less support for our students, especially those who live in rural communities or have special needs. That’s on top of the cuts the President has already made to professional development, research and programs that feed students lunch and keep them healthy. Attorney General Campbell and her colleagues are already in the fight against this. We need Congress to step up and oppose it too.” 

“I chaired a School Committee, and I know what these federal dollars mean for our kids locally – supporting students with special needs, feeding students, keeping reading specialists in the classroom," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “President Trump is putting all that and more at risk, and it’s our students who are going to be hurt by this.” 

“Before Linda McMahon was sworn in, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were already working to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Today’s executive order does nothing to improve opportunities and outcomes for students but instead will negatively impact our most vulnerable student populations and exacerbate longstanding challenges around wealth inequality. As a former history teacher, I know how important public education is to a functioning democracy. The fight to protect students’ civil rights is urgent and here. We will continue to work with Attorney General Campbell and her office on paths forward through the courts.” 

“President Trump’s order to dismantle the US Department of Education guts a system intended to prepare students for our future workforce,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “Massachusetts stands with our students, educators, school administrators and impacted federal workers. We value equal opportunity and access for all students, a freedom and essential right that should be protected nationally.” 

“Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would be a direct hit to Massachusetts’ economic future. Our state’s innovation economy—driven by world-class universities, a highly skilled workforce and cutting-edge industries—depends on strong federal investment in education,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “Gutting that support threatens the pipeline of talent that fuels our businesses, weakens workforce development programs that help residents build careers, and creates uncertainty for employers looking to grow here. Massachusetts succeeds when education and economic opportunity go hand in hand, and this move puts both at risk.”  

Massachusetts receives over $2 billion in federal education funding a year. The state is not able to fully replace these funds. The funding helps Massachusetts’ students, educators, schools, campuses and communities. It helps low- and middle-income students afford to go to college. It provides funding to districts in low-income areas to help pay for teacher salaries and benefits, school counselors and homeless liaisons. It also supports special education, including paying for assistive technology for students with disabilities, professional development and salaries for special education teachers, paraprofessionals and reading specialists, as well as transportation to help students get the services and programming they need and supports those services, like physical therapy, speech therapy and social workers.