March 25, 2025 Story by: Editor
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) strongly criticized President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education on Thursday, arguing that the decision would significantly harm the nation’s public school system.
“Despite ongoing calls from the American people for the Trump Administration to keep its promise to lower the costs of living, President Trump and Elon Musk are instead continuing their rampage against career civil servants and institutions that faithfully serve the needs of the American people,” stated Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), chair of the CBC.
She emphasized the department’s crucial role in education across the country, stating, “Nearly every family, in every state, in every district, and in every zip code can understand the vital role the Department of Education plays in supporting students and ensuring equal access to high-quality learning opportunities for our children.” Clarke warned that the executive order would weaken the department’s resources and place additional strain on already burdened school systems.
On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to eliminate the department. So far, 1,315 staff members have been laid off, with many others previously placed on leave or having accepted buyout offers.
The CBC expressed concerns that dismantling the department would worsen racial disparities in education, particularly with regard to segregation.
“In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson was unconstitutional. In the decades since, the Department of Education has played a vital role in ensuring equal access to education and enforcing desegregation laws,” Clarke explained.
She further highlighted ongoing challenges, stating, “Despite this important and continuing work, challenges in education persist. Today, racial segregation is increasing in our schools. President Trump’s executive actions to further dismantle the Department of Education will make our schools more segregated and unequal.”
One major factor contributing to inequality is funding.
A CBS report revealed that between 2015 and 2020, school districts with at least 80 percent Black student enrollment allocated only about half the funding for building investments compared to districts with less than 20 percent Black students. These disparities stemmed in part from the fact that predominantly Black districts received only about a quarter of the funding that districts with fewer Black students received.
Concerns over the potential closure of the Department of Education were raised as early as February when Trump first intensified discussions about eliminating the agency.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed the issue on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show, stating that the executive order pushes America “back in an area where we can segregate.”
“They want to make this about bureaucracy and cutting. This is about children. This is about broadband access in their schools,” Walz remarked. “This is about the research you were talking about pedagogy, things that we learn, and then it’s about the civil rights department at the Department of Education that makes sure that we don’t have a situation where a Ruby Bridges is escorted to school with police. And so we’re back in an area where we can segregate. And he knows, he knows, that curriculums and those decisions are made on a local basis, but they muddy the waters.”
In response to concerns, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt assured the public on Thursday that all the “critical functions” of the Department of Education would remain intact.
However, the CBC remains worried about the implications for historically Black colleges and universities, Pell Grants, students with special needs, low-income communities, English as a second language students, and Title VI and Title IX laws, which protect against race- and gender-based discrimination in education.
Although Trump issued the order, only Congress has the authority to completely abolish the department. While Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced bills to phase out the federal agency, these measures face slim chances of securing the required 60 votes in the Senate.
Now, the CBC is urging Republicans to take action to preserve the department.
“When the issue of abolishing the Department of Education came before the House last Congress, 60 Republicans joined Democrats in voting it down. We are calling on Republicans to stand up and demand that President Trump and Elon Musk immediately rescind this executive order which will hurt our nation’s public school systems,” the CBC stated.
Source: The Hill
