School workers and the Biden administration have criticized Donald Trump‘s pledge to abolish the Department of Education and cut federal spending on public schools.
Tom Gambrel, superintendent of schools in Bell County, Kentucky, as well as a Trump supporter, both told CNN that the proposed federal education funding cuts could be “catastrophic” for schools in the state.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team for comment via email.
Why It Matters
CNN reported that states relying most on federal funding for public schools would be the hardest hit by the sweeping cutbacks proposed by Trump. The network’s analysis found that 15 states most dependent on federal support for public schools in 2022 voted for Trump in November’s election.
What To Know
Trump repeatedly threatened to dismantle the Department of Education during his 2024 campaign.
He also vowed to cut federal funding for public schools that implement policies on issues such as critical race theory, transgender rights or mask mandates.
Gambrel said he voted for Trump in November’s election, as did about 84 percent of Bell County residents.
The county’s school district typically receives about 10 percent of its budget from federal dollars. It received more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gambrel warned that any cuts to public schools in Bell County could devastate an area already reeling from coal-mine closures.
In addition to being one of the area’s largest employers, Bell County schools provide free breakfast and lunch to all students—services that could be eliminated under Trump’s proposed cuts.
In an interview with NBC News broadcast Thursday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said scrapping the Department of Education would widen gaps between “the haves and have-nots” in the school system.
Pennsylvania resident Lori Mosura, who voted for Trump in November, told The Washington Post last month she was concerned about potential cuts to Social Security benefits, urging Trump to avoid targeting essential programs once in office.
Suggestions to eliminate the Department of Education were mentioned in Project 2025, a manifesto from the Heritage Foundation think tank. The document outlines how the federal government could be restructured to align with a more-conservative agenda.
Trump has denied associations with Project 2025, despite connections between the manifesto and several members of his incoming Cabinet.
Trump has picked Linda McMahon, former CEO of the World Wrestling Entertainment, to lead the Department of Education in his new administration. McMahon, who will need to be confirmed by the Senate, led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency.
What People Are Saying
Tom Gambrel, superintendent of Bell County schools, told CNN: “I don’t think anyone in our county wants to cut our school funding. And I don’t think anyone voted for that. Every time we get a cut, we’re going to have to change something. We’re going to have to provide less for our students.”
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told NBC News: “The federal Department of Education, at its core, is a civil rights agency that ensures students in protected classes, in particular, get their rights and that students receive the support that public education should provide. Scrapping it would create a wider gap between the haves and have-nots.”
Rhonda Caldwell, CEO of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, told CNN: “It would be easy to look at this from the perspective of a loss of Title dollars and the impact on schools. But at the end of the day, we’re harming children and families.”
Pennsylvania resident Lori Mosura told The Washington Post in December: “I think he knows it’s the poor people who got him elected, so I think Trump is going to do more to help us. We helped get you in office; please take care of us. Please don’t cut the things that help the most vulnerable.”
President-elect Donald Trump stated in a September 2023 video: “The United States spends more money on education than any other country in the world, yet we get the worst outcomes. We’re at the bottom of every list. In total, American society pours more than a trillion dollars a year into public education systems. Instead of being at the top, we’re literally right at the bottom. Our schools must be refocused to prepare our children to succeed in work, life, and keeping our country strong. They should grow up to be happy, prosperous, and independent citizens.”
What Happens Next
Trump would need support from Congress to abolish the Department of Education, a move that seems unlikely even with the GOP controlling both chambers.
The GOP’s small majority in the House meaning a move to abolish the department would require near-unanimous support from House Republicans.
To pass legislation in the Senate, 60 senators would need to back the measure. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning at least seven Democratic senators would need to support scrapping the department.
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