Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Denounces Attacks on Department of Education
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Bayarmaa Bat-erdene bbat-erdene@advancingjustice-aajc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Our children’s futures are not political pawns. On November 18, 2025, President Trump’s administration announced the further dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) with six new interagency agreements (IAAs) that will move crucial programs to other federal agencies that are unprepared to ensure our children have access to equitable education. The gutting of ED is clearly in furtherance of President Trump’s March 2025 Executive Order demanding the closure of ED. This de facto closure of ED is a blatant attempt to circumvent Congressional authority, which is needed to shutter ED.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) issued the following response to the administration’s unilateral attempts to destroy ED:
“For over forty years, the Department of Education has been a beacon of opportunity and equality for children of all races, backgrounds and socioeconomic status. The unprecedented efforts to dismantle the department are especially detrimental to students from low-income and marginalized backgrounds. Of the nearly 3 million Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students in our public education system, 20% are English learners. Over 1 million AANHPI students are enrolled in Title I schools, meaning over one in three Asian American students, and nearly two in three Pacific Islander students, attend a Title I school. The Department of Education provides significant opportunities for AANHPI students to succeed through funding for essential services, including language access support and civil rights enforcement.
“The latest attacks on K-12 and postsecondary education programs will further erode funding and essential resources for historically disenfranchised students. This administration is attempting to dodge congressional authority by shifting programs to different federal agencies. This attempted power grab will harm all students, especially AANHPI students. Programs like Title I and English language acquisition grants will have to be administered by other departments that do not have the expertise to handle.
“Advancing Justice – AAJC strongly condemns the administration’s assault on the Department of Education and remains committed to ensuring every child has a right to a free and equitable education.”
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