Interfaith Alliance Condemns Trump’s Steps to Dismantle Department of Education, End Essential Services for Students to Fund Tax Cuts for Billionaires

Media Contact: Ben DePasquale, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC – Interfaith Alliance, a national leader in defending religious freedom and multi-faith democracy, condemned the Trump Administration’s firing of nearly a third of all Department of Education workers, a clear step towards their goal of gutting and fully dismantling the department. 

While only an act of Congress can actually close a federal department, the White House’s dismissal of over 1,000 critical employees is an obvious attempt to prevent the Department of Education from carrying out many of its key functions. 

Interfaith Alliance Senior Fellow Maggie Siddiqi previously served in the Department of Education as Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Siddiqi shared the following statement: 

“The Trump administration is ending essential services for our nation’s students in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Students with disabilities, students from low-income families, and students applying for Pell Grants to afford college will bear the brunt of this unauthorized action. 

“Firing experienced civil servants sacrifices essential services for students in exchange for political gain. Shutting down the Department will strip federal civil rights protections from students, decimate special education and other programs, and leave states and districts to fend for themselves.

“Gutting and potentially dismantling the Department of Education also destroys its critical role as a guarantor of religious freedom protections for the 90 percent of American students who attend public schools. For many decades, the Department has worked to uphold the civil rights and civil liberties of all students, including the rights of all students to engage in constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public schools. That’s because it is a fundamental American principle that every student deserves opportunity, resources, and support to reach their full potential. 

“By targeting the Department of Education for reduction and dissolution, the Trump Administration is ensuring that students will face more discrimination and hardship, will have larger class sizes and fewer supports, and fewer opportunities to pursue higher education.

“All people who value education and freedom should oppose this appalling effort to slash essential services for students, all for the purpose of funding tax cuts for Elon Musk and other billionaires. To support all students, no matter their identity, backgrounds or beliefs, we must oppose the Trump Administration’s attack on the Department of Education.” 

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Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.

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