As a lifelong educator, our public education system has always been near and dear to my heart. The Trump Administration's recent attacks on education are unacceptable. Here are just a few ways I have been pushing back against President Trump and working to strengthen our education system: 

Friday, February 7th, I joined Rep. Takano and other members of the E&W Committee in demanding answers from the Department of Education on the Trump Administration’s reported plans to dismantle the agency. My remarks can be found here.

Tuesday, February 11th, I issued a statement against Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education:

“Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ team has been inside the Department of Education for over a week attempting to cancel federal education grants and contracts. So far, 89 contracts and 29 grants have been terminated—including funding for diversity and equity programs– totaling over $900 million. Trump Administration officials know what they are doing is illegal.” My full statement can be found here.

Wednesday, February 12th, I delivered remarks at a Rally to Protect our Public Schools, organizing with educators, parents, students, and supporters of public schools to push back on Trump’s attack on our education system. Those remarks can be seen in the video above. 

Wednesday, February 12th, I joined Reps. Schakowsky, Huffman, and Raskin in a letter urging President Trump to withdraw his executive order on school choice, citing concerns over federal overreach and the diversion of public funds to private religious schools. Full letter can be found here.

Thursday, February 13th, I joined Reps. Amo, DeGette, Sánchez, Fletcher, and Houlahan in a letter to the NIH expressing concern over cuts to indirect research funding, warning that the decision could force research institutions to shut down labs, lay off staff, and halt critical studies. Full letter can be found here.

Thursday, February 13th, I co-sponsored the Pell Grant Sustainability Act to restore automatic annual inflation adjustments and ensure Pell Grants keep pace with rising college costs. Full details can be found here here.

Friday, February 14, I co-sponsored the reintroduction of the American Teacher Act, which sets a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers, adjusted for inflation. Full details can be found here here.

Thursday, February 20th, I joined Ranking Member Scott and Senator Bernie Sanders in a bicameral letter to the Department of Education opposing recent funding cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences, citing concerns over their impact on education research. Full letter here.

Thursday, February 20th, I responded to the Trump Administration’s suspension of the USDA 1890 Scholars Program, a program vital to the training Black farmers, calling on the agency to reverse course and reinstate the program. Because of these efforts, the USDA announced it would reopen applications and extend the deadline until March 15th. My full statements can be found here and here.

Thursday, February 27th, I issued a statement to President Trump’s launch of the “End DEI” tip line at the U.S. Department of Education, calling it a shameless attempt to silence educators and dismantle programs that promote fairness and inclusion,

“This Administration should be more focused on ending the disparities in our education system. Where is the 'tip line' for that?" My full statement can be found here.

Thursday, February 27th, I joined Rep. Summer Lee in a letter urging the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to rescind its guidance, which threatens to revoke federal funding from schools and institutions with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs. Full letter can be found here.

Wednesday, March 5th, I lead my colleagues in a letter calling on committee leadership to investigate illegal actions at Dept. of Education. Full letter can be found here. 

I was so proud to have Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board Chair Attorney Stephanie Sneed join me at President Trump's address this week. In the wake of the Trump Administration’s ridiculous attempts to dismantle the Department of Education, I could not think of a better guest to attend with me.

Chair Sneed knows firsthand the dangers that the Administration’s attacks on public education present to 12th District families and their children. I am pleased to have her fight alongside me to ensure that every child in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County receives a quality education.

Elon Musk and his DOGE minions gained full access to the federal government’s central payment system with no warning, explanation or notification to millions of Americans about the potential threat to their sensitive data. That's why I joined my House Democratic colleagues to introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. Protecting the privacy of my constituents and their personal information from abuse by an unelected billionaire is one of my top priorities. 

The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will:

• Protect the nation’s payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.
• Ensure that anyone accessing the system:
  • Has lawful authorization
  • Has a reliable track record of professional service
  • Has the necessary security clearance
  • Has made an ethics commitment and has no conflicts of interest
  • Has appropriate cyber security training
• Ensure that anyone who accesses the federal government’s central payment system with a personal financial conflict faces criminal penalties.
• Ensure that Congress and the public have notice of any unauthorized access and an assessment of any cyber and national security risks or interference with federal payments.

This week, I met with Dr. Mark Brown, President of Tuskegee University, to discuss the Trump Administration's recent attacks on our 1890s Land Grant institutions. Last month, the Department of Agriculture abruptly paused the 1890 National Scholars Program, but, after public outcry, the program was reinstated. 

Our 1890s universities help make higher education accessible for everybody and provide opportunities for students to work in the critical fields of food safety, agriculture, and natural resources that Americans rely on every single day. That's why I will continue to speak out against any attempts to cut funding for these schools and advocate for them to receive the resources they desperately need. #HBCUStrong

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Students submit entries to their representative's office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

My office is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition from high school students who live or attend school in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District.

Right now, Republicans have what we in government call a trifecta– they control the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. 

Democrats in Congress have only limited power to conduct oversight on the Administration. The responsibility to stop the President from acting unconstitutionally ultimately falls on the Republican majorities in Congress. However, it looks unlikely that Republicans are going to stand up to Trump and Elon Musk.

Even though we are not in power, I want to be clear: we are not powerless.  

Dozens of state’s attorney’s general across the country– including North Carolina’s Attorney General Jeff Jackson– are taking action to fight the administration in court, and they have been overwhelmingly successful thus far. In addition, nonprofits and advocacy groups are filing lawsuits– almost daily– against the administration.

I also want encourage all of my constituents to reach out to your Republican members of Congress and demand they speak out against the President's unlawful actions.

Together, we will continue to fight these unconstitutional actions and raise our voices against hate and division.

Together, we will get through this.

Sincerely,