Trump is pushing to reopen schools without ensuring that it can be done so safely. He is trying to weaken protections and threatening to take away funding that schools say they will need to safely reopen. Trump rushed to reopen states without doing so safely, and we know how that turned out—now he’s at it again.

Trump pressured the CDC to weaken guidelines intended to keep children, teachers, and staff safe at schools—and overruled health experts to issue guidance with fewer protections.

TRUMP: “I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!”

NBC News: “The White House is preparing to release new reopening guidelines for schools as President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to ‘cut off’ funding for institutions that do not reopen this fall. White House officials said on Wednesday the guidance released earlier this summer by the Centers for Disease Control are too restrictive.”

NBC News’s Peter Alexander: “The Vice President [said] … we don’t want what the public health experts are telling you to be the reason that you can’t reopen.”

Trump used European countries as an example in his rush to reopen schools, but ignored how they reopened safely. Due to Trump’s failure to address the coronavirus, cases continue to rise rapidly across the U.S. while most European countries have mitigated the virus’s spread.

TRUMP: “In Germany, Denmark, Norway,  Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!”

CNN’s Jennifer Hansler: “Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden COMBINED have 2.7M fewer confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 116K fewer deaths than the US, per data from Johns Hopkins”

Vox’s Aaron Rupar: “Germany had 390 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. The US had 50,940.”

Trump is threatening to cut funding to schools at a time when schools say they need more funding to safely reopen.

Politico: “Trump threatens to cut federal funds from schools that don’t reopen”

NBC News: “Schools want to reopen safely. Without federal funds, many worry they can’t.”

Fox News: “Teachers union leader insists schools will need more funding to reopen on time amid pandemic”

Washington Post: “Districts still say they need billions of new dollars from Congress to enact their plans and ensure they have enough protective gear for adults and children, but exactly how much they need isn’t clear. Nor is the intent or timing of U.S. legislators… Hundreds of thousands of teachers and other school personnel have already been laid off as a result of the coronavirus, he said.. .And a Democratic-led House bill passed recently calls for $58 billion in new funding for K-12 schools.’