As Donald Trump begins his first week in office by immediately signing executive orders that gut education programs, he’s made his plans clear from the start: he and his billionaire pick for education secretary will rip away our kids’ right to a quality education. 

Trump is hellbent on defunding and sabotaging the Department of Education and other critical education programs, causing dangerous downstream effects on the quality of education for children all over the country. DNC Senior Spokesperson Hannah Muldavin released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump is wasting no time in his plot to defund our schools and gut education programs that give our kids a chance to succeed. Trump has always had it out for the Department of Education, making multiple threats on the campaign trail to defund and even dismantle the entire department. Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon, a billionaire Trump megadonor, says everything about where Trump’s priorities lie: rewarding his ultra-rich friends with cabinet positions while scamming America’s students out of their right to a quality education.” 

On Day One, Trump wasted no time slashing critical protections for students across the country as well as ending programs uplifting underrepresented communities. 

Higher Ed Dive: “Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump signed several executive orders Monday taking aim at Biden-era efforts to provide protections for LGBTQ+ students and increase educational access for Hispanic, Native American and Black students.”

Chronicle of Higher Education: “While the Trump administration has not yet signed an executive order specifically directed at higher education, Trump did end White House programs focused on advancing educational equity and opportunities for Hispanic, Native American, and Black students. The administration also rolled back efforts supporting tribal colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions.”

Trump has nominated campaign megadonor Linda McMahon as his Secretary of Education — a grossly unqualified pick. 

USA Today: “On it, she indicated she earned a bachelor’s degree in education, according to a copy of the original form the governor’s office provided to USA TODAY.  She did not. McMahon, a billionaire and wrestling executive who graduated from East Carolina University in 1969, actually has a bachelor’s degree in French, the school confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday. Although her academic program at the time was designed to prepare teachers for instruction, the school said, McMahon does not have a degree in education.” 

Trump has repeatedly promised to carry out Project 2025’s extreme plan to defund the Department of Education and has a long history of attacking funding for the Department of Education during his first term. 

CNN: “Even a slight reduction in those dollars could have devastating effects for students and their families, said Tom Gambrel, the district’s superintendent. It would mean teacher layoffs, bigger classroom sizes and less attention for their most vulnerable students.” 

Inside Higher Education: “President Trump called for a $7.1 billion cut to funding at the Education Department with a proposed budget … The proposal marks the third straight year that President Trump has asked Congress for major cuts to education spending — the proposal would mean a 12 percent cut for the Education Department from fiscal year 2019 — and to overall discretionary expenditures.”

CNN: “Trump wants to close the Department of Education, joining calls by GOP rivals”