WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education:

“The onslaught of actions from this administration in eight weeks have harmed veterans, farmers, consumers, disease experts, our national security, democracies worldwide — and now America’s public school students and teachers are at risk due to the announcement that the President intends to dismantle the Department of Education. This President doesn’t seem to have a grasp of the service and work done for Americans by the federal government day in and day out. He made his name on saying ‘You’re Fired,’ but when VA and IRS phone calls go unanswered, or bird flu and nuclear security dangers are increased because of reckless terminations — Americans suffer.

“Cutting the Department of Education could leave thousands of vulnerable children in the lurch by compromising federal support for our public schools. Our educators, students and parents are still getting their bearings after the chaos of the pandemic; this is no time to backslide and destabilize public education.

“In addition to our schools, this decision also damages our Constitutional system of government. The Department of Education (DOE) was established 45 years ago by Congress to consolidate federal programs and support the educational enterprise nationwide. This attempt to unilaterally dismantle the DOE without consulting or engaging Congress is grossly unconstitutional and violates the checks and balances of our American system of government.

“America’s public school teachers are among the most committed public servants in our nation — as the son of a public school teacher, I know this firsthand. In fact, Abraham Lincoln said that education is ‘the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in’ and those words have never been more true as the world grows more complicated and well-educated citizens are more important than ever.

“From my time as Governor establishing the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) to prepare Maine’s students for the 21^st century, to my work in the Senate helping to ease the burden of student loans, I have been committed to ensuring our students have the latest resources and investments to set them up for long-term success both in and out of the classroom. When that means a change of course, a new way of thinking, a disruption, I have never shied away. But this proposed dismantling of the Department of Education would not be an improvement; it could cost our children untold damage in their lives.

“Before she was confirmed, Education Secretary Linda McMahon indicated that she would be willing to dismantle the Department she was nominated to run — for this reason, along with her lack of experience in the education sector, voting against her candidacy was an easy decision. While we don’t know exactly how this Executive Order will affect Maine’s students and public schools, you can rest assured that I will work with my colleagues to protect the vital institutions are critical to a prosperous future for our children.”

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