FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2025
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Trump Set to Sign Reckless Executive Order Aimed at Dismantling the Department of Education
(Washington, DC) – Today, President Trump is set to sign an executive order directing the Department of Education (ED) to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” This comes a week after Secretary Linda McMahon enacted a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50 percent of the department’s staff.
In response, Kristin McGuire, Executive Director of Young Invincibles said:
“Signing an order to dismantle the power and authority of the Department of Education (ED) is an insult to students nationwide. It is a reckless and irresponsible decision with far-reaching consequences. While mandating the dismantling of ED is unconstitutional and could only come from Congress, the administration found roundabout ways to systematically destroy the department from within.
This executive order sets a dangerous precedent by dismantling ED, inevitably disrupting Pell grants, financial aid, and other support for millions of students. Failing to maintain a well-funded and functioning ED will have widespread consequences for higher education, especially for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges, low-income, rural, and students of color. The department plays a vital role in protecting students’ civil rights and investigating discrimination-based complaints. Trump is sacrificing the well-being, education, and future of students to follow through on a misguided and uninformed campaign promise. Even without fully shuttering ED, Secretary McMahon has already been busy gutting key departments and slashing staff, harming students and families and making education less affordable and accessible.
These deliberate attacks against ED will ultimately create chaos and confusion for students and borrowers everywhere. An educated citizenry is vital to our nation’s well-being and economy, and everyone- teachers, students, doctors, factory workers- relies on a solid educational foundation. If we truly are America first, then we should prioritize a well-educated public and have a dedicated department in our federal government to reflect that. This heedless decision shows exactly what priority this administration has, and it’s not students.”
In response, Waleed, a young adult from Illinois said:
“The Department of Education plays a vital role in my success. I managed to receive a very coveted fellowship that ED funds. It’s called the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS). This fellowship covers my tuition in a vital field the United States is keen to have an edge over–foreign language proficiency. If I lose access to this fellowship once the ED is shut down, not only will I lose my tuition for university, but the American government will lose young minds that benefit the safety and security of the United States of America, especially those that seek to build deep intercultural capacities with worldwide partners.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org