Statements on President Trump’s order to eliminate U.S. Department of Education

GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY

“President Trump’s directive to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education is unconscionable and unconstitutional. This Executive Order will have disastrous ramifications — especially for our nation’s students.

“New Jersey receives approximately $1.2 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the vast majority of which supports low-income students and students with disabilities. By signing this Executive Order, the Trump Administration is endangering vital resources for K-12 students and risking increased costs for those pursuing higher education.

“Simply put, the Trump Administration is going out of its way to create chaos and raise costs for our nation’s families. I urge New Jersey’s Congressional delegation to protect federal funding and preserve the legally prescribed functions of the U.S. Department of Education. My Administration will take every possible step we can to support their efforts.”

NJEA President Sean Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson

“Donald Trump has once again chosen to hide behind the bluster of an executive order to advance a deeply unpopular policy. It’s the only way he can attempt to implement the Project 2025 playbook that America has rejected but that his billionaire backers continue to demand. His fear of taking his proposals to Congress, where his party controls both houses, is evidence of a weak president who lacks the full backing of even his own party.

“There’s a reason America rejects Trump’s education schemes. The overwhelming majority of American families don’t want another tax break for billionaires like Elon Musk or Linda McMahon. They want opportunities for every child to learn, grow and thrive. The US Department of Education has been at the forefront of providing those opportunities for nearly half a century.

“No one is fooled by the false promise that critical programs like Title I and IDEA will carry on after the destruction of the department. When the secretary of education does not even know what IDEA stands for, you can be sure she has no interest in protecting the children who rely on it. When Elon Musk slashes $1 billion from programs that feed hungry students, you can be sure that he does not care at all about their learning. And when Donald Trump claims that he’s giving education back to the states, you can be sure that the money currently supporting our students will be nowhere to be found once he’s done with his budgetary shell game.

“New Jersey families deserve better. We already get back far less from the federal government than we pay in taxes. Now Trump and his accomplices want to make sure none of it gets back to our state to support our students.

“We urge everyone who cares about public education to stand strong against this theft of our children’s future.”

CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER

“President Trump’s decision to dismantle the Department of Education is not just dangerous — it’s a reckless and illegal betrayal of our families, students, and educators.

“As the son of a teacher, I understand the critical impact the Department of Education has on Jersey families. New Jersey claws back nearly $1 billion in critical education dollars from the federal government every year, including $463 million for students with disabilities and $465 million for underserved students and communities. These dollars help our schools and offset local contributions from our property taxes. The Department also provides essential resources to strengthen early childhood education and support our educators. These are the hard-earned tax dollars of Jersey families, and the Administration cannot jeopardize our children’s education and futures by stripping them away.

 

“I’m all for efficiencies, but blindly taking a chainsaw to programs that Jersey families, students, and teachers depend on is not a strategy — it’s pure stupidity. And it will hurt our students. I will always fight to protect our families and ensure our children have opportunities to learn and thrive.”

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TERESA RUIZ

“This executive action to dissolve the federal Department of Education, coupled with recent mass firings, is yet another blatant overreach of power by the President that jeopardizes our children’s future. Since its creation by an Act of Congress, the department has worked for decades to streamline resources and ensure equal educational opportunities for all students.

“It funds underserved districts, special education, and federal student aid programs, supporting our most vulnerable. It is critical in education research and data collection, tracking school and teacher performance to shape policies that drive improvements. It safeguards students’ civil rights, promoting an inclusive and welcoming learning environment. Without a unified federal department, we are shortchanging the next generation from reaching their fullest potential and setting our country backward.

“Any reduction in federal funding due to this order will devastate our state and students. Last year, New Jersey received over $1.2 billion in federal funds to support K-12 education, with the most significant investments targeting students with disabilities and learners in Title I districts. Additional grants included $15 million for literacy initiatives, $35 million for language acquisition programs, $47 million for teaching instruction, and $4 million for mental health services. If funds are lost or diluted by shifting responsibility across multiple agencies, we will lose meaningful efforts in addressing learning loss and closing achievement gaps, depriving our students of the tools required to succeed in the classroom.

 

“New Jersey understands the value of empowering every child with a strong academic foundation and will wholeheartedly confront any new challenges in the face of federal negligence. Congress must put our children above party and stand against this harmful directive for the well-being of the communities they represent.”

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN VIN GOPAL

“The decision to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and push for its ultimate closure is an unprecedented attack on public education that threatens to destabilize schools, educators, students, and families across New Jersey and the nation. As one of the top-ranked states in education – ranked second nationwide by U.S. News & World Report – New Jersey has built a strong Pre-K-12 system that prioritizes student success, and we intend to ensure that standard remains.

“As Senate Education Chairman, we have worked diligently at the state level to stabilize state aid for school funding, including securing more equitable special education payments and guaranteeing increased support for students with disabilities. However, the sudden and permanent loss of federal funding would be catastrophic, leaving school districts scrambling to cover critical programs.

“This Executive Order will have severe economic consequences. If the federal government abandons its role in education funding, the burden will fall squarely on the shoulders of local taxpayers. Property taxes could skyrocket as districts attempt to offset the loss of millions in federal aid, forcing communities to make painful choices between raising taxes or cutting essential services.

“In Fiscal Year 2025, the New Jersey Department of Education received $1.24 billion in federal funding, including more than $500 million for special education grants, $4 million for school-based mental health services, and $29 million for vocational education. The future of this funding remains uncertain for Fiscal Year 2026 and beyond under this Executive Order. Without federal oversight, protections for students with disabilities, Title I funding for low-income schools, and critical resources for mental health and special education will be thrown into uncertainty.

“New Jersey is home to 1.4 million public school students and more than 61,000 charter school students, served by 697 local educational agencies and over 2,500 schools. At the state level, we are doing everything possible to ensure stability for New Jersey schools through state aid and other funding mechanisms. Education is the foundation of our future, and student success remains our top priority. New Jersey will continue to lead in providing a high-quality education for our Pre-K-12 schools as we navigate the consequences of this Executive Order.”

DEMOCRATIC STATE CHAIRMAN LEROY JONES

“President Trump’s Executive Order dismantling the Department of Education is callous and cruel. The fact that the President of the United States can take his pen and with one swipe erase school funding for millions of students is nothing short of vindictive. Vital resources that go to K-12 students — mostly low-income students and students with disabilities — are now simply gone because the President of the United States wants to wage war on our families, our teachers. and our public education system.

“And what is most appalling to me, as a father and grandfather, is that our Republican Party here in New Jersey is cheering this on. They refuse to stand up for New Jersey families and educators. They refuse to stand up for what is right. And I hope every voter remembers this day come November when they have to make a choice for Governor: The Republican Party deserted you today, and you should remember it.”

STATE SENATOR SHIRLEY TURNER

“As Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and as a career educator, I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s decision to dismantle the United States Department of Education. This reckless move undermines our nation’s promise of equity, justice, and opportunity for all students.

“The Department has long played a critical role in protecting vulnerable children, those from low-income families, communities of color, students with disabilities, and English language learners, ensuring access to a fair and quality education. While local governing bodies are often better positioned to address the unique needs of their communities, eliminating the Department does not eliminate the need for the essential services and oversight it has historically provided.

“What is especially concerning is the uncertainty surrounding the future of federal funding for special education, English Language Acquisition programs, and grants that help low-income students attend college. Without clear assurances, there is a real risk that crucial programs underpinned by federal resources could be jeopardized. These programs are not luxuries; they are fundamental to the success of millions of students and help to ensure that we have a well-educated and skilled workforce.  Even if funding were to continue without the Department, we need to ensure that the funding is not shifted away from public schools, which are vital to our country and our democracy. Our state should have a partner at the federal level to ensure that adequate funding reaches the students and schools who need them most, especially those that are continuing to recover learning loss since the pandemic.

“This decision sends a troubling message to students and families in New Jersey and across the country. It risks destabilizing efforts to provide high-quality education to all, particularly those who already face systemic barriers.

“I will continue to fight alongside my legislative partners, local leaders, and advocates to ensure that every New Jersey student, regardless of race, background, language ability, or income, remains at the center of our work.

“We will stand firm in our commitment to public education as the great equalizer, empowering all learners to shape their own futures and the future of New Jersey.”

FORMER STATE SENATOR STEVE SWEENEY

“Presidents Musk and Trump are dismantling the United States, one Executive Order at a time, and this time, they’re going after kids and teachers by eliminating the Department of Education. It means less money for kids with disabilities, schools losing millions of dollars in funding, fewer kids getting access to higher education, and thousands of teachers and faculty losing their jobs and livelihoods. It’s disgusting, it’s wrong, it’s illegal, and Democrats need to stand up right now — before it’s too late.”

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JOSEPH CRYAN

“This is a blind-sighted move with devastating consequences for New Jersey, our schools, students and communities. The scheme to dissolve the department will cause irreparable harm at all levels of education, from pre-K through college.

“Removing or reducing the federal role in higher education will deny many students access to college and narrow their career opportunities. Disrupting the student loan system and eliminating repayment options would be an economic catastrophe for students and their families, resulting in higher rates of default and greater debt.

“The attacks on the Title I program, which supports education in underserved communities, and on the special education services that aid students with disabilities are heartless actions that will harm vulnerable children and their families.

“Adding to the distress is the chaos and confusion in the implementation of the directive and the uncertain fate of the department and its functions. There are no real plans, no realistic contingencies and no reasonable ideas on how the dismantling of the department will be executed. That means the uncertainty will continue.

“But there is no doubt that students and their families will be the first to suffer and the educational community in New Jersey will pay a heavy price.”