Yesterday, the Department of Education said that it will move several of its offices to other federal departments, an effort aimed at dismantling the agency that ensures equitable access to education for all students.

The Office for Civil Rights is one of the offices that has already had their staff gutted and could be eliminated completely. This specific office, which investigates allegations of discrimination based on race, sex, and disability is vital to ensuring our nation’s education system is equitable and non-discriminatory.

We are outraged by the Administration's attempt to dismantle the Department of Education. In his continued march toward authoritarianism, justifications from the Administration bypass the role of Congress and attempt to expand the role of the executive branch. This move threatens checks and balances, endangers underrepresented communities, and weakens education and safety nationwide. It is a direct civil rights violation targeting our most at-risk students.

We won’t sit by and watch this happen to our LGBTQ+ youth, who are some of the most vulnerable in our schools.

Schools that are safe and affirming for the most marginalized - like LGBTQ+ students - are safe for ALL students.

In Solidarity,

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers

Pronouns: she, her, hers/they, them, theirs

Executive Director