1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

Eliminating the Department of Education poses a severe risk of disrupting critical funding streams and support systems vital for disadvantaged students and underfunded schools. The abrupt redistribution of responsibilities across multiple federal agencies could create service gaps and loss of institutional knowledge, jeopardizing over $150 billion in annual education funding. This includes $18.8 billion in Title I funds for high-poverty schools serving 26 million students, $15.5 billion in IDEA funding for 7.3 million students with disabilities, and $120.8 billion in Federal Student Aid assisting 10.8 million college attendees. Schools already grappling with teacher shortages and tight budgets may find themselves overwhelmed by this transition without proper guidance and resources. We cannot allow disruptions that deepen existing inequities or leave vulnerable students behind. A hasty implementation risks undermining vital programs and exacerbating achievement gaps this department was created to address. Any restructuring must prioritize preserving crucial funding streams, maintaining oversight of civil rights and disability protections, and ensuring underserved communities retain access to the resources they depend on.