1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The Supreme Court's recent ruling giving the green light for Trump to dismantle the Department of Education poses a severe threat to the future of public education in America. If Trump follows through on his promise, the consequences would be devastating – Arizona alone stands to lose nearly $1 billion in annual education funding, putting over 20,000 teaching and education jobs at risk. This is unacceptable. The Department of Education plays a vital role in funding programs like Pell Grants that provide access to higher education, enforcing civil rights laws, and ensuring equal opportunity in education for all students, regardless of background or circumstance. Gutting the Department would cripple Title I schools serving lower-income communities and threaten crucial support for special education students. An attack on public education is an attack on the future of our nation. We cannot allow politics to undermine the great equalizer that is public education. Voucher programs and privatization efforts divert funding away from the public system to benefit the wealthy few. Every student deserves access to a quality education – it is the foundation of an educated, engaged citizenry and the antidote to rising authoritarianism. I urge you to take immediate action to prevent the dismantling of the Department of Education and protect the future of public education in America. Our students, our teachers, and our democracy depend on it.