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Press Release

Trump administration robs students of educational opportunity with announcement to dismantle Department of Education

Pringle: Our students deserve better.
Published: November 18, 2025

The Trump administration announced Tuesday its intention to shift multiple Department of Education functions to other federal agencies—an unprecedented, unilateral attempt to dismantle a department created by Congress to guarantee equal access to educational opportunity to this nation’s children and coordinate federal programs.

The following can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle:

“Donald Trump and his administration chose American Education Week, a time when our nation is celebrating students, public schools, and educators, to announce their illegal plan to further abandon students by dismantling the Department of Education.

“Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures. Nothing is more important than the success of our students, and America’s educators and parents will not be silent as Trump and Linda McMahon turn their backs on our students, families, and communities to pay for billionaire tax cuts.

“Ensuring a brighter future for our children should be a top priority for any administration, but this administration is taking every chance it can to hack away at the very protections and services our students need. Just last week, they went to the Supreme Court to avoid feeding families. And they’re still pushing to gut healthcare programs. 

"Now, they’re neglecting the basic responsibility to educate our children. It’s cruel. It’s shameful. And our students deserve so much better.”

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.

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Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.