Friend,

Since its creation in 1979, the Department of Education has been responsible for ensuring the tax dollars that Congress appropriates for education get to the students those dollars are intended for—kids who are poor, kids with disabilities, kids in rural areas, kids learning English, kids who want to go to college or pursue a career. While public schools have always been under state and local control, these dollars help create opportunities for virtually every child in America’s public schools.

The Trump administration has made no secret of its plan to dismantle the Department of Education, leaving in limbo the federal-funding lifeline it provides. We want to make sure that the person in charge of running the department is committed to putting the aspirations of our students, families and communities first.

We have questions for Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, Linda McMahon, as she faces the Senate for her confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. tomorrow. And we need your help in asking those questions loudly enough for the Senate to hear them.

We’re asking you to copy and paste these questions below into social media platforms like Bluesky, X and Threads, using the hashtag #QuestionsForLinda, to make sure lawmakers see what voters want to know:

• What safeguards are being put in place to prevent DOGE from accessing historical FAFSA applications containing sensitive data about millions of families? #QuestionsForLinda

• What measures will protect special education records from being used to identify and potentially discriminate against students with disabilities? #QuestionsForLinda

• What protections exist for whistleblowers whose confidential complaints may have been exposed? #QuestionsForLinda

• How will the department prevent DOGE from using personnel data to target specific employees? #QuestionsForLinda

• How will you advocate for adequate working conditions, pay and benefits for all educators #QuestionsForLinda

• What specific oversight measures will prevent voucher funds from being misused for non-educational expenses like theme park tickets and ski passes, as they have in states with vouchers? #QuestionsForLinda

We'll be sharing even more #QuestionsForLinda on social media, so follow us at @AFTUnion on X and Threads, and @AFTUnion.bsky.social on BlueSky.

Public schools have always offered opportunity for every student who steps inside our classrooms. And voters in last November’s election made clear that supporting public education remains high on their list of priorities. As a union, we will try to work with anyone who puts the aspirations of our students, families and communities first. That means strengthening public education, not undermining it.

Will McMahon support us as we teach students to read? Will she protect kids and families, so that everyone feels welcome in school and can learn? Or will she help the Trump administration end $26 million in federal support for Title I schools that support low-income children, slash $7.6 million in federal support for special education and services for children with disabilities, cut $13 million in Pell Grants and other aid for first-generation college students pursuing higher education, and end support for career and technical education for high school students?

These are questions we need answered, to ensure we can continue improving the lives of students, their families and their communities.

So today, during her confirmation hearing, we need your help getting answers to these questions. Help us share these questions on social media with the hashtag #QuestionsForLinda, and ask your friends to do the same.

In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President