The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) are stepping up to defend public education against the new administration’s controversial plans. Key points of concern include the potential dismantling of the Department of Education, the risk of student data privacy violations, and the push towards privatizing education, which could leave many students behind.
On February 12, teachers and support staff rallied in Washington, D.C. amidst the confirmation hearing of Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education. McMahon, known for her ties to Trump and her past as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, has no experience in public education and has advocated for significant cuts to funding for public schools.
The Department of Education plays a vital role in American education. It helps ensure that students from low-income areas receive proper funding and support, manages $1.6 trillion in student loans, and enforces civil rights protections. If McMahon’s plans succeed, public schools—where most students, including those with disabilities, are educated—could face huge budget cuts. Rural areas would be particularly affected.
Becky Pringle, NEA President, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “We will not stand idly by. We will fight for our students and educators through legal and legislative actions.” During the protest, many speakers shared the potential harm of McMahon’s nomination and the overarching strategy of the administration to weaken federal agencies and redirect funds to benefit wealthy donors.
As part of this effort, the AFT, along with other unions, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, claiming it improperly shared millions of Americans’ private data, including Social Security numbers and financial information, with a new team under Elon Musk. AFT President Randi Weingarten highlighted the seriousness of this breach, calling it one of the most significant data hacks in U.S. history. The lawsuit aims to halt this invasion of privacy and protect the personal information of millions.
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