Senator Murray Criticizes Trump’s Education Agenda During Press Conference
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a former preschool teacher and senior member of the Senate Education Committee, voiced strong opposition to President Trump’s proposed education policies in a recent press conference. Senator Murray, along with her Senate colleagues, expressed concerns over the potential impacts of Trump’s plans on the nation’s education system.
“As a former preschool teacher—I have to say that I think a preschool student could’ve written a better education agenda,” Senator Murray stated. “It is unimaginable to me that we would cut our school funding in half, or fire teachers, or leave kids in the dust. It is unthinkable to me that we would shutter the Department of Education and tell our parents, and students, and teachers, and schools across the country, ‘Sorry you’re on your own!’ Our public schools are the backbone of our country’s strength, and it is the foundation of our future. Fighting for that future—fighting for our kids—is what first drove this mom in tennis shoes into politics, and it still drives me today.”
Former President Trump’s proposal includes eliminating the Department of Education and reducing education funding by half. Additionally, he aims to withdraw federal funding from schools with vaccine mandates.
Project 2025, a comprehensive plan created by a group of former Trump administration officials, outlines significant changes in national education policy. This plan includes several controversial proposals such as the elimination of the Head Start program, which benefits numerous families by providing early childhood education. The agenda also proposes ending Title I funding, which supports schools in low-income communities, weakening special education, and reducing access to school lunches for certain students.
Senator Murray’s Remarks
Video of Senator Murray’s remarks HERE.
Senator Murray’s remarks as delivered:
“I have a stark warning for parents about what a second Donald Trump administration would mean for our families.
“Trump has said, clearly, and publicly—he wants to slash education funding in half—in half! That sounds unthinkable right? Impossible right?
“But this isn’t just Trump bluster—Project 2025 shows this is something that Republicans are seriously planning for, and their plans would have serious consequences.
“Project 2025 calls for ending Head Start, that is a program that has given millions of parents a start in early childhood education. It calls for choking off funding for schools in our low-income areas—including many in our rural communities. It calls for taking student lunches away from some students.
“This is really wildly out of touch with families and out of touch with reality.
“Do Republicans think rural communities need fewer teachers and public schools?
“Do Republicans think we should have less support for students with special needs?
“Do they think any parent wants to lose Head Start?
“Do they think any student wants to go to school hungry?
“Because that is what Project 2025 means. And that is what Trump is promising.
“Another promise—and this is direct from Donald Trump himself—he is going to cut off funding to schools with vaccine requirements. That should raise so many alarms and so many questions.
“Why does Trump want a measles outbreak? Why does he want to bring back Polio? Do we seriously think we came through a COVID pandemic—only for Trump to think ‘How can we make it worse next time?’ I mean, does he even understand what he’s talking about? Because every single state in the country has basic school vaccine requirements.
“I will tell you, as a former preschool teacher—I have to say that I think a preschool student could’ve written a better education agenda.
“Seriously though, it is unimaginable to me that we would cut our school funding in half, or fire teachers, or leave kids in the dust.
“It is unthinkable to me that we would shutter the Department of Education and tell our parents, and students, and teachers, and schools across the country, ‘Sorry you’re on your own!’
“Our public schools are the backbone of our country’s strength, and it is the foundation of our future. Fighting for that future—fighting for our kids—is what first drove this mom in tennis shoes into politics. And it still drives me today.
“So I will keep speaking out loudly about how Donald Trump, and Project 2025 would put our kids’ futures in jeopardy.”
