U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed strong opposition Thursday to President Donald Trump’s potential executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Speaking alongside Senate Democrats, Murphy warned that such a move would harm American families and prioritize profits for billionaires and corporations over the educational needs of children across the country.
Murphy criticized the Trump administration for being out of touch with the struggles of everyday Americans, especially regarding public education. “The billionaires in charge of our government send their children to elite private schools. Even if every public school in this country were to disappear, their kids would still get an education,” Murphy said. He argued that the administration’s approach reflects a broader disregard for the needs of average Americans, noting that the wealthy would not be affected by cuts to social programs. “Billionaires don’t need Medicaid. They don’t care if Medicaid disappears or if rural hospitals close because they have access to private healthcare,” he said. “They don’t need Social Security either. They’re never going to need a Social Security check like millions of seniors who rely on it.”
Murphy also criticized the administration for focusing on tax cuts for the wealthy while ignoring the needs of working-class Americans. “Their goal is to take money from middle and lower-income families and give it to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. They are shrinking parts of government that help regular people in order to benefit their billionaire friends,” he said.
One of Murphy’s biggest concerns was the potential impact of ending the Department of Education, particularly on the future of public schools. He warned that eliminating the department could make it easier for wealthy individuals and corporations to profit from education through voucher programs. “The voucher system they are pushing is really about allowing billionaires and corporate interests to take control of our schools. They’ll make money off of it, just like they do with Medicare and other government programs,” he explained. “If the Department of Education disappears, it will hurt millions of families, and it could lead to public schools being owned by private equity firms more concerned with profit than education.”
Murphy concluded by urging Americans to recognize the consequences of the Trump administration’s agenda. “If the Department of Education is shut down, it’s not just about losing a government agency. It’s about the theft of resources from everyday families to benefit the ultra-wealthy. It’s about seeing your local school, which serves your children, become a profit-driven business instead of a place focused on education.”
