Concerns Rise Among HGSE Affiliates About Education Careers Amid Trump Administration Policies | Harvard Crimson News

Students and professors at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) are feeling the pinch from federal funding cuts and a hiring freeze. These changes limit their chances to work in humanitarian roles and public teaching.

Many are worried that the freeze and potential elimination of the Department of Education will impact international programs. They fear American teachers might not be able to find stable positions abroad.

Even though the Trump administration later lifted some funding restrictions, the hiring freeze remains. Professor Fernando M. Reimers, an expert in international education, points out that this freeze particularly harms programs supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These programs provide literacy support in over 60 countries.

Reimers expressed concern that ongoing funding freezes have already caused layoffs in organizations that partner with USAID. That could impact HGSE students aiming to build careers in these areas.

Many HGSE students are passionate about public service and eager to help improve education at local, state, and national levels. Professor Emiliana Vegas, who has a background with international agencies like the United Nations and the World Bank, shares these concerns. She’s found alternative funding sources for her research, hoping to sidestep federal constraints.

Current HGSE student Nancy M. Garcia Castillo, a seasoned teacher, feels the funding freeze has created uncertainty for both her and her students. She worries that federally-supported programs, like those for special education, could be affected, even if they aren’t fully funded by the government.

Garcia Castillo aspires to work in nonprofits or higher education after graduation, and she’s been checking the Department of Education’s career listings, which currently show no openings. She’s anxious about the potential complete dissolution of the Department of Education.

Another student, Siena Laws, who is studying Human Development and Education, finds the funding situation stressful. She notes that careers in education often come with unpredictability, which she is prepared to manage. However, the uncertainty surrounding funding still weighs heavily on her mind.

For some students, immigration issues overshadow these concerns. Maria Ximena Valenzuela, an undocumented HGSE student with an interest in out-of-school programs, feels the threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids deeply affects students like her. She is aware that access to funding might hinge on government reviews, complicating her prospects.

Valenzuela plans to work before continuing her education, though the current political climate makes her reconsider pursuing a PhD in the future.