Legislators denounce Trump’s order to dismantle Education Department
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, speaks during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Education, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
LOS ANGELES – Several legislators, including Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng and Education Task Force Chair Mark Takano, have joined in denouncing Pres. Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education.
“President Trump’s decision to close this crucial agency will lock millions of families out of the American Dream and dim the futures of children across the country,” said Meng and Takano in a joint statement.
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“Let us be clear-eyed about who will be affected by this disastrous decision. Kids living in poverty or in rural areas who rely on low-cost or free school lunches. Students with disabilities who need specialized education.”
Protestors gather during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Education, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents California’s 44th Congressional District, called Trump’s order a “reckless decision” and an attack on students.
“Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Republicans are ready to destroy our public education system for the purpose of slipping a few extra dollars in the pockets of their billionaire donors,” Barragán said in a statement.
Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents California’s 42nd Congressional District, added that they would not rest and will fight to stop these actions and “rebuild America’s education system.”
The president’s action also prompted swift response from Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI).
“This illegal act by the Trump Administration will have disastrous consequences for our schools,” Schiff said in a statement. “It will mean less resources for special education, for teacher training and for individualized attention to the learning needs of each child.”
Sen. Hirono said Trump’s executive order “will do nothing” to support students or increase government efficiency.
“Trump and Elon Musk have decided to sabotage our children’s futures in order to pay for massive tax cuts for their billionaire buddies,” Hirono said.
Meanwhile, Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, defended Trump’s order.
“The bloated federal bureaucracy plus California’s incredibly powerful public sector teachers unions have already caused irreparable harm to students,” Hoge said in a statement.
