Protests Erupt Against Plans to Close U.S. Department of Education
In a significant display of dissent, students and supporters organized a “study-in” protest outside the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on Friday. This demonstration was a direct response to President Donald Trump’s initiative to dissolve the federal agency, a mission long pursued by conservative groups.
Demonstration Against Education Cuts
Protesters set up school desks adorned with messages such as “Trump, Stop Stealing From Kids” and “Kids Deserve Good Schools,” signaling their commitment to defending educational rights. The Sunrise Movement, a youth-driven climate advocacy organization, led the event, proclaiming their determination to “protect our schools, our futures, and our democracy” from what they perceive as threats posed by Trump and his administration.
Executive Order and Its Implications
The protest follows Trump’s signing of an executive order aimed at closing the Department of Education. This directive charges Education Secretary Linda McMahon, a billionaire entrepreneur, with facilitating the agency’s shutdown and transferring its responsibilities back to individual states. The announcement was met with enthusiasm from conservative factions, including the Heritage Foundation, which has been a proponent of measures that undermine federal oversight in education.
Concerns Over Education Access
Abolishing the Department of Education would have severe impacts on students, teachers, and parents. Schools will face larger class sizes, fewer teachers, and severe underfunding, making it even harder for students to get the education they deserve. Pell Grants would be eliminated, putting higher education out of reach for millions. Programs that support students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income families—as well as funding for school safety, mental health services, and building repairs—will be slashed.
Voices from the Movement
During the protest, 19-year-old Adah Crandall of the Sunrise Movement captured the sentiment of many attendees. “If Trump and Musk want to destroy the futures of millions of students across the country, they will have to come through us,” she stated. Crandall emphasized the fight against what she described as threats to her generation’s educational opportunities.
Fellow activist Wanya Allen, a student at Seminole State College in Florida, echoed these sentiments. “The Department of Education is a human right. We must continue this fight for our future, just as our ancestors did,” she said, highlighting the importance of federal support in access to education.
Broader Impacts of Education Policy Changes
Proponents of the protest emphasized that dismantling the Department could lead to greater disparities in educational access, larger class sizes, and diminished support for vulnerable student populations. The potential loss of Pell Grants and other financial aid programs stands to affect millions of students nationwide, raising alarm among educators and advocates alike.
As these debates persist, the mobilization of youth-led activism signals a critical moment in the ongoing dialogue surrounding educational policy and the role of federal authority in ensuring equitable access to education across the United States.
