1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I’m writing with urgent concern about the coordinated effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—an effort that endangers students nationwide and undermines the foundational promise of equal opportunity in America. On July 8, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction that had blocked mass layoffs at the Department of Education. This ruling now allows the Trump administration to terminate nearly 1,400 employees—roughly 40% of the Department's workforce—without congressional authorization. [Source: SCOTUS emergency order, July 2025] This move isn’t isolated. Former President Trump repeatedly vowed to eliminate the Department. In March, he signed an executive order instructing Secretary Linda McMahon to “facilitate” its closure. [Source: Trump Executive Order, March 2025] McMahon—who lacks any education credentials and whose prior role was promoting professional wrestling—has publicly stated she will carry out Trump’s agenda. Federal courts have already called these actions unlawful. In May, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun blocked the mass firings, ruling they could not proceed without congressional approval. The First Circuit upheld that decision in June. In a sharp dissent to the Supreme Court’s reversal, Justice Sotomayor wrote: “When the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it.” [Source: SCOTUS dissent, July 2025] Eliminating the DOE would gut civil rights enforcement and federal protections for students—especially those most at risk. Here's what’s at stake: • Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 enforcement • IDEA protections for students with disabilities • Funding for Title I schools, special education, and Pell Grants • Oversight of federal student loans and fraud prevention • Research and support for educators nationwide States already control curriculum, school operations, and licensing—but federal support fills critical gaps. Eliminating the DOE would disproportionately harm students in underfunded states, widen inequality, and strip essential accountability from our education system. This is not about efficiency. It’s a political attempt to weaken public education, dismantle civil rights oversight, and silence critical thinking in classrooms. Undermining this agency signals that only certain children deserve investment. As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how vital this Department is in ensuring every child has a chance to succeed. I urge you to: 1 Publicly oppose any attempt to dismantle or defund the Department of Education 2 Introduce legislation requiring congressional authorization for major departmental restructuring 3 Protect federal education funding and civil rights enforcement 4 Support judicial accountability in emergency decisions that bypass normal review Quickly — defend equal access to education and preserve the institutions that protect it.