Friend,

Donald Trump just announced a plan to dismantle the Department of Education, moving major parts of the agency to other federal departments, leaving America’s students and educators in the lurch.

This move is neither streamlining nor reform—it’s an abdication and abandonment of America’s future. Rather than show leadership in helping all students seize their potential, it walks away from them.

Write your elected officials now and urge them to protect public education.

What’s happening now isn’t about slashing red tape. If that were the goal, teachers could help them do it, and we invite Donald Trump and Linda McMahon to sit down with educators and hear from the people who actually do this work every day. Teachers know how to make the federal role more effective, efficient and supportive of real learning—if only the administration would listen.

We need our members of Congress to reclaim their authority over education during the upcoming funding battles and stand up and protect public education. Send a message today.

In the meantime, the AFT will continue to fight back, including in court, because every American, no matter their background, deserves a strong, well-resourced public school that forges a future full of purpose, promise and possibility.

We can’t allow the federal government to shirk its responsibility to all kids. Write to your lawmakers now.

In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President