For the Common Good: The Department of Education

February 20th Update + Call Your Senators

On February 20th, the Senate HELP Committee voted to advance Linda McMahon, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, to the full Senate for confirmation. During her hearing with the Senate HELP Committee, McMahon confirmed that she will continue her history of, and stated commitment to, supporting President Trump’s agenda of discrimination and exclusion, she does not deserve the support of the U.S. Senate.

Call your senators today. Urge them to vote NO on Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. Visit this webpage to learn more and take action.

February 7th Update + Call Your Legislators

The Trump administration continues to follow the Project 2025 playbook in escalating the threats to the Department of Education. Dismantling or diminishing the Department of Education puts student loans, funds for lower-income communities, college financial aid, support for children with disabilities, and tracking of student achievement at risk. Contrary to his rhetoric, the Department of Education was established by Congress, and cannot be dismantled by executive action.

Demand your elected officials stand up for students and educators and do everything they can to protect the Department of Education. Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding all of your elected officials — local, state, and federal!

January 24, 2025

Welcome to Women Employed’s new series, For the Common Good, where we break down important issues that impact working women and their families — including the roles and the work of key federal agencies, departments, and programs — and actions you can take to make an impact.

We’re just a few days into the new administration, but we’re already seeing the threats to diversity, equity, inclusion, workplace protections, equitable access to education, and more. We want to help you understand what the rhetoric means, what’s a stake, and how YOU can join WE in demanding what’s right.

Today (January 24th) is International Day of Education, so this issue of For the Common Good is focused on the Department of Education. You may have heard that the new administration has suggested dismantling or otherwise reducing the influence of the Department of Education or some of its signature programs. Just yesterday, the Department of Education announced they are dismantling their own diversity, equity, and inclusion measures in compliance with President Trump’s executive order.

But do you know what the Department of Education’s work actually entails, and what it doesn’t? Watch this video, where WE’s Director of Policy and Programs, Christina Warden, dives into the work of the Department of Ed, and its impact on Illinois.

So, what’s at risk if the administration’s threats to the Department of Education become reality?

• Crucial funding that supports equity in education, ensuring that all students from all backgrounds have fair and equal access to quality and affordable education. This work is especially critical — and vulnerable — given the administration’s moves to end federal diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• Thousands of teaching positions, for some of Illinois’ most vulnerable students, which are paid for by Department of Education funding.
• Funding for Illinois’ Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), which help to ensure high-quality programs and opportunities for college students of color so they can have fair access to higher education.
• Critical oversight of financial aid dollars, putting students at risk of taking out federal loans for predatory, for-profit schools that provide low-quality programs.

We can’t let that happen! Education should be accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter your income, background, race, ethnicity, gender, or any other aspect of your identity.

Here are some actions you can take to make an impact:

Have 5–10 minutes?

• Call your legislators. Demand your elected officials stand up for students and educators and do everything they can to protect the Department of Education. Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding all of your elected officials — local, state, and federal!
• Sign up for Women Employed’s Action Network. We’ll email you with concrete actions that will make a difference, and we’ll also send new issues of For the Common Good to keep you informed.
• Make a gift to Women Employed to support this work.

Have a half hour?

• Subscribe to our For the Common Good series here on Medium, and visit the landing page on our website.
• While you’re on Medium, read through Women Employed’s recent posts to learn more about the issues.
• Know your workplace rights. Read our rights on the jobs resources.
• Protect and care for yourself. Our friends at Supermajority have resources to help.

Have 1–2 hours a month?

• Join our Advocacy Council and attend our monthly meetings.

For the Common Good is a series where Women Employed will break down the administration’s actions, as well as important issues that impact working women and their families — including the roles and the work of key federal agencies, departments, and programs — and what you can do to make an impact.