(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s attorney general continues to vow to fight against President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education while the Department of Public Instruction superintendent calls it a reckless move that threatens more than $1 billion in federal funding to Wisconsin schools.
The Wisconsin Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tony Evers, have said that the effort will hurt Wisconsin students.
Trump’s office, meanwhile, said that the order preserves the department’s responsibilities by distributing them to other federal agencies and departments.
Supporters of the plan have applauded Trump returning the power to determine educational plans to the states while opponents say that it will threaten critical programs for students.
Attorney General Josh Kaul was part of a multistate lawsuit aiming to block Trump’s action.
“We filed suit last week to block the Trump administration’s shameful attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, and we won’t back down from protecting its vital role in supporting access to quality education,” Kaul said. “As Donald Trump continues trying to sabotage critical institutions, we’re going to keep stepping up to stop his actions that would weaken America.”
The department ensures compliance with Title IX and federal civil rights laws, collects school data, and oversees the massive federal student loan and grant programs for higher education, including Pell Grants and $1 trillion in outstanding FAFSA loans.
Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly’s campaign said that she believes federal cuts to school meal programs and local farm-to-school partnerships are already hurting Wisconsin students and that the department that oversees federal testing has been gutted as well.
Underly is facing Brittany Kinser in the April 1 election for superintendent.
“Trump is slashing federal education funding across the board – but Kinser wants us to believe Wisconsin’s schools won’t be affected?” Underly said. “That’s either dangerously naive or an outright lie.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin congressmen such as Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany believe the move will save money and give Wisconsin more say on how its children are educated.
“Washington bureaucrats have spent trillions since creating the Department of Ed, yet student achievement has declined,” Tiffany wrote on social media. “It’s time to give our children the education they need to succeed.”
