Women Employed’s Statement on the Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education
President Trump has escalated his assault on public education and our nation’s civil rights infrastructure by signing an Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education — reaching and acting beyond his authority.
Every student in every community deserves equal access and opportunity to quality education, and it should be affordable, and free of discrimination for all students. Trump’s actions — right out of Project 2025 — put student loans, funds for lower-income communities, college financial aid, support for children with disabilities, protections from bias and harassment, and tracking of student achievement at risk.
Education has proven time and time again to be one of the most effective paths to economic vitality. Women Employed has always understood the life-changing impact that education can make, particularly for students with limited financial resources — it has led to our advocacy for ensuring that higher education is within reach for every student in Illinois. But now, the funding for vital student aid, without which thousands of Illinois students would be unable to afford higher education, is at risk in the chaos and confusion. Thousands of teaching positions for some of the state’s most vulnerable students are hanging in the balance. In jeopardy — for Illinois alone — is $7.2 billion in funding to ensure that all students have their civil rights protected and have resources to improve their educational opportunities. The stakes could not be higher: our students — and our country’s — very future.
Congress and the courts must act to stop this overreach from the President — and protect the right to accessible, quality, equitable education across this country.
