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Fellow Democrat, this isn't an April Fools joke:
President Trump and his GOP cronies are on a crusade to harm public schools and hinder our students' ability to learn.
Just this morning, we learned that they have terminated $106 million in federal funding for K-12 Education in Massachusetts. That funding would have provided: [[link removed]]
* Mental health services for students
* Math tutoring
* Purchasing of high-quality instructional material with a focus on science
* Enhanced screenings to identify students’ risk of poor reading outcomes, including risk of dyslexia.
* Building upgrades including: * Improving air quality through HVAC installations
* Building outdoor learning spaces for students


* Bolstering security in schools, including the purchasing of cameras, door alarm, and emergency response technology.
Massachusetts students who just want to learn and be safe in school are suffering because of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their reckless crusade to slash funding without due process or any accountability to the American people.
This yanking of funds means that projects which have already been started will be jeopardized and students will not get the resources they need. This is a disgusting move by an administration that is committed to dismantling our public education system.
Here's what else you need to know about Republican attacks on the Department of Education:
President Trump's Executive Order
On March 20th, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to the fullest extent possible. While a full elimination of the department requires an act of Congress, this action fulfills his Project 2025 campaign promise to restore public education to state jurisdiction.
Trump assured that key functions of the department would be preserved and redistributed to other agencies. Among the programs set to be reassigned are Pell Grants, Title 1 funding, and programs for students with disabilities.
Impact on Students and Massachusetts
The DOE serves over 50 million students across 18,200 school districts nationwide. In Massachusetts alone, nearly one million students depend on the department's resources.
The Commonwealth receives $2 billion in federal education funding annually, which accounts for roughly 10% of the total state school budget . The loss or redistribution of these funds could have serious implications for public schools.
Key Changes & Workforce Reductions
Days before Trump’s executive order, on March 11th , the DOE workforce was cut nearly in half. Secretary of Education and billionaire Trump donor Linda McMahon said, “Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.”
Soon thereafter, President Trump ordered the transfer of the student loan program to the Small Business Administration (SBA) under Kelly Loeffler. The same day, he announced a 43% workforce reduction at SBA , significantly affecting the department's ability to manage student loans effectively.
Additionally, Special Needs and Nutrition programs were moved to Health and Human Services (HHS) under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly claimed that childhood vaccinations cause autism.
Legal & Political Response
On March 13th , Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell led 21 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit [[link removed]] against Secretary McMahon and President Trump, challenging the drastic DOE workforce and program cuts.
On March 24th , AG Campbell filed an additional motion to her lawsuit for “a court order to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services.”
Senator Ed Markey, a member of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, charged Trump, Musk, and McMahon's dismantling effort as an attempt to privatize education. He said that eliminating the DOE “will harm every community in the country.”
Governor Maura Healey also criticized the cuts, arguing that they would lead to:
* Larger class sizes
* Canceled after-school programs
* Reduced support for students, particularly those in rural areas or with special needs
* Cuts to professional development, research, and school nutrition programs
Massachusetts' Reliance on Federal Education Funding
Massachusetts receives $2 billion annually in federal education funding. These funds will not be fully replaced. Lost funding will impact:
* Low- and middle-income student college tuition assistance
* Salaries for teachers, counselors, and homeless liaisons in low-income districts
* Special education programs, including: * Assistive technology
* Professional development
* Special education teacher salaries
* Paraprofessionals and reading specialists
* Student transportation for specialized services
* Physical and speech therapy, social workers


Who is Secretary of Education Linda McMahon?
Billionaire Linda McMahon, WWE co-founder who has never worked in public service and lost two Senate elections in Connecticut, previously served as head of the Small Business Administration under Trump. Now, as Secretary of Education, she is responsible for dismantling her own department.
These sweeping changes threaten critical federal education programs, impacting students, teachers, and families across the country.
Visit mobilize.us/massdems [mobilize.us/massdems] to find an event near you to help us stand up to this harmful administration.
MassDems
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