WASHINGTON — This week, President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have begun dismantling the United States Department of Education, ordering the firing of thousands of department employees, shuttering regional offices, and leaving the department gutted. In a Fox News interview, McMahon confirmed that President Trump has charged her with eliminating the department altogether, which would be an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers.

“In this country, we believe that every student should have the opportunity to learn and that every educator should have the chance to teach,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. “All of us invest in ensuring that everyone can access a good education, that teachers and professors are compensated for their work, and that students have access to the technology and resources they need – no matter their zip code or major. But this administration doesn’t care about supporting our students; they only care about enacting the Project 2025 agenda to dismantle our public schools and demolish the nation’s public education system. Already we have seen the Trump administration turn its back on protecting LGBTQ+ students, and these layoffs could lead to larger class sizes, more expensive colleges, fewer teachers, and more unlawful discriminations. But our kids, our teachers, and our schools are worth fighting for, and we will not cede our children’s futures.”

While the true scope and impact of the sudden firings remain to be seen, the administration’s assaults on the Department of Education are already threatening to disrupt services, ending investigations into discrimination claims by LGBTQ+ students and others, and turning the department on its head. 

While the Trump Administration’s support for America’s students, teachers, and staff collapses, organizations remain committed to classrooms that are safe and welcoming for all. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Welcoming Schools program is the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals. With tools and resources available online, and training being done nationwide, the Welcoming Schools program is empowering educators to create safe and affirming classrooms for all students. In the past year, Welcoming Schools has trained 8,000 educators and over 450,000 students. 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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