Public Education Cuts
The Trump administration has announced its intention to eliminate the US Education Department (USED), with the enthusiastic support of newly-confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and DOGE head Elon Musk. The first step in this plan is the announcement of mass layoffs at USED shrinking the workforce by 50%.
For over forty years, USED has provided vital education funding for New Jersey’s public school students, ensuring our students have access to special education, school lunches, and after-school programs.
Despite their claims to be turning education decisions “back to the states”, the reality of this move is a unilateral power grab to gain federal influence over our local schools. Furthermore, this attempt to shutter the department exposes our tax dollars to being raided by his billionaire allies. Make no mistake, Trump’s education cuts are going to cost public school employees dearly, and students in New Jersey will suffer.
Public Schools Are Open to Everyone
In a March 5 letter, attorneys general from over a dozen states—including New Jersey—addressed the U.S. Education Department’s Feb. 14 “Dear Colleagues” letter, which targeted diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and programming in schools. The bottom line of the message? Keep doing what you’re doing; the law is on your side.
Understand the Impact of Trump's Education Cuts in New Jersey
As Trump and Musk attempt to hobble and illegally shutter the US Department of Education (USED), it's important for New Jerseyans to understand how much our schools depend on federal support. Whether these programs are cut, or oversight is moved to different agencies, the uncertainty created by these reckless actions will have a direct impact on your schools.
Use the dropdown boxes below to select your county and school district to learn how your own schools will be affected by the radical games being played in Washington without regard for their impact on our nation’s public school students. The results shown are the amount of money your local district has budgeted for in this year's school budget, and how much you could stand to lose next year.
County
District Name
White Twp
Washington Twp
Washington Boro
Warren Hills Regional
Warren Co Voc-Tech
Warren Co Special Service
Pohatcong Twp
Phillipsburg Town
Oxford Twp
North Warren Regional
Moving these vital functions to a different federal agency will result in equally bad outcomes. As Musk, a major Trump donor, is being given carte blanche as an unelected bureaucrat to slash agency staffing across the government, there are fewer and fewer staff to manage these programs to ensure education dollars make it where they belong: in the classroom.
Title I
Thousands of students in New Jersey’s low-income communities depend on Title 1 for smaller class sizes, free/reduced lunch, and learning specialists. New Jersey’s school funding is in limbo as the Trump administration plays political games with your tax dollars.
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides support for students with disabilities in New Jersey. If this funding is transferred to another department, it puts our most vulnerable students at a disadvantage.
Financial Aid
The US Education Department administers Pell Grants, federal student loans, and loan repayment. Letting Trump’s billionaire friends get their hands on this program will prove disastrous for our college-bound students as well as graduates.
Office for Civil Rights
USED’s Office for Civil Rights protects students against discrimination in school. Eliminating this office or moving it to the Department of Justice would leave students vulnerable to discrimination, making schools less safe for students and impacting academic outcomes.
