NWLC Reacts to Trump Executive Orders Attacking Public Education
WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 29) — President Trump signed two executive orders today attacking public education. One of the orders would ban federal funds from being used to teach so-called “discriminatory equity ideology,” and instead distort the role that race and gender have played in our country’s history and allow the erasure and harm of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students. The other order directs the Education Department to find more resources to back voucher schemes that siphon public dollars toward schools exempt from many civil rights protections – including Title IX.
Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president of education and workplace justice at National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), issued the following statement in response:
On curriculum:
“Classrooms filled with diverse perspectives and experiences are crucial for the strength of our democracy. LGBTQI+ students and students of color must not only see themselves reflected in their education, but they also need access to accurate teaching materials — and both are necessary for creating safe and inclusive schools and developing respect for people of all backgrounds. This order is an attempt to indoctrinate children in a whitewashed history, bury the real impact of race and sex discrimination on people’s lives, and encourage the harassment of LGBTQI+ students.”
On school vouchers:
“By diverting federal funds away from public schools, Trump’s executive order would hollow out the public school system and exacerbate barriers to education for the nation’s most vulnerable children. Cutting funding to public schools will only widen disparities across the board and send taxpayer dollars to schools that are less accountable, have fewer protections for students, and are often not beholden to some civil rights laws. This is dangerous and cruel, and Congress must ensure that students are protected and centered. We will continue to advocate for all students to have the quality education that they deserve.”
