Illinois state leaders have voiced strong opposition after the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to cut its workforce by half, with thousands of jobs on the line and the closure of its Chicago office.
Governor JB Pritzker quickly condemned the move, criticizing President Donald Trump for undermining the education system.
“Donald Trump is failing the test of leadership again,” Gov. Pritzker said in a statement. “Rather than focusing on improving math and reading scores, he’s dismantling the Department of Education and making it harder for working-class kids to succeed.”
Al Llorens, president of the Illinois Education Association, echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the historical role of the Department of Education in supporting public schools across the country.
“The U.S. Department of Education was created to ensure every student, regardless of their background, has access to a quality education,” Llorens said. “Eliminating half of its workforce will significantly impact schools in Illinois and across the country.”
Programs that may be affected by the cuts include Title 1 funds, which assist low-income students, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Pell Grants for college-bound students, and Head Start, a program for early childhood education.
Llorens warned that these cuts would hurt Illinois’ students, 90% of whom attend public schools, and 95% of whom are students with disabilities.
“These cuts won’t just impact bureaucrats; they will hurt our kids,” Llorens said. “As the largest educator organization in Illinois, we will fight this decision.”
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), also expressed outrage, criticizing Trump’s efforts to bypass Congress in dismantling the Department of Education.
“President Trump is trying to override the will of the people and consolidate power, rolling back civil rights and directing public funds to private interests,” Montgomery said. “This is an unconstitutional move that will face serious legal challenges, but the fact that he’s even attempting it shows his disregard for democracy and the rule of law. Public education is the backbone of our democracy, and this is a direct attack on it.”
Montgomery assured that the IFT would continue to stand up against what they see as threats to public education.
