Cecily Myart-Cruz, President of United Teachers Los Angeles, issued the following statement in response to Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. 

Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education is a full-scale attack on our students, our schools, and working-class families. This reckless, anti-democratic move reveals a disturbing truth: those in power are willing to sacrifice our children’s education and our nation’s prospects. Although LAUSD receives little federal funding and currently remains financially stable due to its reserves, eliminating the DOE would devastate vulnerable communities — especially in rural areas, conservative states, and low-income districts — where nearly 90% of students rely on public education.

Make no mistake: this isn’t about academic freedom. This ploy serves as a distraction while billionaires and technocrats steal from our communities, stripping public schools of vital resources and handing them over to crooks who put profits over children.

Public education is a fundamental right, not a bargaining chip for fascists, billionaires, and self-serving politicians. Congress has an opportunity to reject this callous move, and if they refuse to stand up for the people they serve, we will do what they won’t — fight like hell to defend our schools, our students, and our communities.