1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over Donald Trump’s unilateral action to dismantle the Department of Education by moving special education programs and the Office for Civil Rights to other agencies. This aggressive restructuring represents a dangerous overreach of executive power that directly bypasses the constitutional authority of Congress. Trump is attempting to rewrite the structure of our government through executive rules and interagency agreements rather than actual law. According to Article I of the Constitution, the power to create, alter, or dissolve federal departments belongs strictly to the legislative branch. Trump has no right to independently break apart an agency established by an Act of Congress. By allowing these vital programs to be reassigned without legislative approval, debate, or votes, Congress is permitting its own constitutional role to be severely undermined.  A president cannot rule by executive decree to bypass statutes passed by the people's representatives. This non-law restructuring creates immediate jeopardy for millions of students. Moving special education and civil rights enforcement threatens the structural protections that guarantee equal access to education for children with disabilities and marginalized communities. These departments exist to ensure federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are strictly enforced.   As my elected representative, I urge you to assert your constitutional authority and aggressively reverse Trump's rule. I ask that you use every legislative tool available, including budgetary oversight and targeted legislation, to block this restructuring and restore these offices to their proper home. Congress must stand firm in its role as a co-equal branch of government, strike down this executive overreach, and defend the civil rights of our nation's students. Thank you for addressing this illegal action.