Americans United for Separation of Church and State’s President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to credible reports that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order declaring an end to the U.S. Department of Education later today:
“The Trump Administration’s attempt to end the Department of Education is part of the Christian Nationalist agenda set out in Project 2025 to destroy public education that benefits all communities in favor of private, religious education. Every public school district and most colleges and universities in the country rely on the Department of Education as do the students and communities served by those schools.
“Among its many important functions, the Department of Education ensures that millions of American students receive financial aid for higher education and that public schools respect students’ civil rights. The stroke of a magic marker cannot take away those important functions and rights from American students.
“Public education is one of the great promises of America – our pledge to our children that they have the power to brighten our collective future. This order signals that Trump wants to betray that promise and indoctrinate a new generation of Americans into Christian Nationalism. Americans United will continue to fight for public schools and against the Christian Nationalist assault on public education.”
Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Liz Hayes
Associate Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
