The U.S. Congress must reject President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and undermine the foundation of public education in this country.

We have witnessed countless attacks on public education at the hands of this president and his administration since he took office. In this most recent attack, nearly 50% of Department of Education employees were unjustly fired in the name of government efficiency. With the significant reduction in staff, the Trump administration has effectively shuttered the agency and gutted its ability to support public schools, compromising our children’s legal right to quality and equitable public education and they are attempting to circumvent our U.S. Congress to do so!

As a concerned member of this community and a passionate advocate for equitable opportunities in education, I believe these attacks on public education will have devastating long-term consequences for our children, our schools, and our country’s future. I urge our members of Congress to invest in public schools and rein in the Trump administration’s attacks on our public education system. Our children’s future depends on it.

MARY O’NEILL,

Presque Isle