Department of Education Tracker

A record of the Trump administration’s destruction of US education.

Latest News & Events

3/5/25 - The National Education Association filed a lawsuit over the Feb 14 "Dear Colleague" letter saying it is vague and threatens authority of states, school districts and first amendment rights.

Filed in New Hampshire US District Court. ACLU of New Hampshire, ACLU of Massachusetts and NEA New Hampshire are also part of the suit. Acknowledges FAQ released 3/3 but says it does not meaningfully change the problems with Feb 14 memo.

3/3/25 - ED is part of "comprehensive review" (alongside HHS and GSA) threatening funding to Columbia University over alleged antisemitism related to Gaza protests.

Alleges "woke cancel culture" has led to rise in antisemitism on college campuses, and singles out Columbia. Threatens over $50 million in federal contracts.

3/3/25 - Linda McMahon confirmed as Secretary of Education

McMahon plans to oversee dismantling of ED and her confirmation is likely the start of a quick process to do that along P2025's timeline. She is deeply unqualified for this position and has a history of allegations of covering up CSA within wrestling. Read her speech here.

3/3/25 - ED OCR releases FAQ which appears to walk back some of the February 14 "Dear Colleague" letter forbidding race or DEI to be used in policy

Brings guidance in line with established legal views on discrimination instead of vague, threatening wording used in Feb 14 memo. Clarifies that DEI is not automatically illegal. Likely a response to pushback.

2/28/25 - ED offers buyout to most of its employees of up to $25k before "very significant" Reduction in Force

Result of memo from OMB/OPM (DOGE, essentially, acting illegally) asking every agency to submit "RIF and reorganization plans" by March 13. Payout is reportedly less than vacation and benefits would be worth.

2/27/25 - ED launches a public portal at "EndDEI.Ed.Gov" for the public to submit "reports of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly-funded k-12 schools”

Press-release quotes a co-founder of "Moms for Liberty", a right-wing organization which aggressively targets schools and school boards to promote right-wing ideology. Encouraging the public to surveil and report on each other is a key component of fascism.

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Things To Do Right Now:

Call your representatives and ask how they will protect the Department of Education. Find how to contact them and a script here.

Learn everything you can about the Dept of Ed to better talk about it with others and explain why it’s needed.

Join teachers unions in demonstrations and protests.

Spreadsheet (source of data):