Colorado takes Trump to court over efforts to abolish Education Department
Click play to listen to this article.
As the Trump administration makes good on promises to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, educators and parents are raising concerns about the effects on children with disabilities and civil rights.
Nearly half of the agency's staff has been laid off or resigned since President Donald Trump's second inauguration.
Carrie Bingham, a Colorado mother of a special needs student, said the speed and haphazard nature of the staffing cuts is alarming.
"Cutting it off by the knees is going to have such serious repercussions on literally, kids, like individual kids around the country," Bingham pointed out. "That's just not OK."
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said staffing cuts are the first step in plans to abolish the agency she oversees. Colorado's Phil Weiser and 20 other state attorneys general have asked a federal judge to block the cuts because they would prevent the Education Department from fulfilling its legal duties. The Trump administration claims it will deliver on all statutory programs, including funding for special-needs students. Affected staff are set to be placed on administrative leave on Friday.
Last year, Colorado received more than $1.2 billion in federal funds to support education programs, roughly the same dollar amount as the current state budget deficit, which is already putting school funding at risk.
Christi Herrick, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6186, said federal funds are essential for students who need additional resources, especially in rural areas.
"Without the Department of Education, rural school districts would lose federal funding that provides speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric services and all kinds of special services that special-ed students require," Herrick outlined.
The Trump administration has issued layoff notices for all civil rights staff in seven of the agency's 12 regional offices. The department's Office for Civil Rights is charged with protecting students from discrimination and sexual assault and making sure all Americans have equal access to education.
