Blumenthal Statement on Anticipated Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today in anticipation of President Donald Trump signing an Executive Order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education:

“President Trump’s illegal destruction of the Department of Education will directly hurt the hundreds of thousands of Connecticut students who rely on federal funding for their classrooms, and the many borrowers who depend on federal aid to pursue a college education. At a time when we should be investing more resources in our students’ success, President Trump is fully abandoning what’s left of the federal government’s commitment to public education. This reckless action is a gift to greedy for-profit schools and student loan providers and will have ripple effects for years to come. All across America, students with disabilities, low-income students, and hardworking teachers will be left behind.”

In Connecticut, federal funding through the Department of Education benefits 1,000 K-12 schools and more than 533,000 K-12 students, including those with disabilities, from low-income backgrounds, and English learners. Federal financial aid and support also benefit students across the State, helping students attend and complete college. In Connecticut, 63,000 students have received $286 million in funds through the Pell Grant program and 517,000 borrowers have relied on federal student loans to support their education.

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