A coalition comprising the NAACP and the National Education Association (NEA)—the largest union representing public education professionals—is set to file a lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration. This legal action is a response to the recent measures taken to dismantle the Department of Education, which have raised significant concerns among educators and advocates alike.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that aims to significantly reduce the powers and functions of the Department of Education, fulfilling a promise he made throughout his campaign. The executive order characterizes the department as an unaccountable bureaucracy that has failed to serve the needs of children, teachers, and families effectively.
The day following the executive order, Trump announced two critical shifts in the Department's responsibilities. Student loans are set to be transferred to the Small Business Administration, while special needs and nutrition programs will be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services. These changes have raised alarms within the coalition, which collectively represents millions of students, teachers, and education professionals.
The coalition argues that the administration's actions could lead to a de facto dismantling of the Department of Education through executive fiat. They assert that such dismantling would jeopardize millions of vulnerable students, particularly those from low-income families, English learners, homeless students, and rural students who rely on the support provided by the Department. According to their estimates, more than 400,000 jobs could be at risk as a result of these changes.
NEA President Becky Pringle emphasized the importance of student success, stating, “Nothing is more important than the success of students. America's educators and parents won't be silent as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Linda McMahon try to steal opportunities from our students, families, and communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
In a separate issue, President Trump has called for the removal of a portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado State Capitol. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the artist, claiming that her skills had diminished with age, and noted that residents of Colorado have expressed dissatisfaction with the artwork. He described the portrait as being distorted to an unprecedented degree, unlike a painting of former President Barack Obama, which he claimed depicted him favorably.
Trump urged Colorado Governor Jared Polis to take action and have the portrait removed, stating, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.”
Amidst growing calls for him to resign as Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Chuck Schumer defended his decision to support a continuing resolution aimed at funding the government. Speaking on NBC's “Meet the Press,” Schumer acknowledged that the resolution was not ideal but argued that a government shutdown would have severe consequences.
“The CR was certainly bad,” Schumer noted, “but a shutdown would be 15 or 20 times worse. Under a shutdown, the Executive Branch has sole power to determine what is essential, without any court supervision.” He expressed concerns about the potential impact of such a scenario, particularly under the leadership of figures like Elon Musk and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed in on the situation, expressing disappointment with the Democratic Party's response to Trump's actions. Speaking from Denver during his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, Sanders criticized not only Schumer but the overall influence of billionaires within the Democratic Party. He remarked, “There’s been nobody more critical of Chuck Schumer than I have been... but the bottom line is that the Democratic Party is dominated by billionaires, just as the Republican Party is.”
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna refrained from commenting on whether he would support Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a potential challenge to Schumer for reelection in three years. However, he noted that there are voices within the party encouraging her to consider such a move. “The American people are fed up with the old guard,” Khanna stated. “There needs to be a renewal.”
As sentiments of change continue to rise within the Democratic Party, the focus remains on how these dynamics will influence future elections and the ongoing political landscape.
