1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The Department of Education plays a vital role in promoting student achievement and ensuring equal access to education. Its current organizational structure, with offices dedicated to various aspects of education such as civil rights, postsecondary education, special education, and more, is designed to effectively carry out this mission. Any reorganization that decentralizes or reduces staffing levels within the Department risks undermining its ability to fulfill its critical responsibilities. We must safeguard the Department's integrity and capacity to serve students, families, and communities across the nation. This necessitates maintaining the Department's existing structure, responsibilities, authority, and staffing levels as of January 1, 2025. Any efforts to reorganize or downsize the Department should be approached with caution and careful consideration of the potential consequences for educational equity and quality. Therefore, I urge you to support measures that prohibit the use of appropriated funds for any activities related to reorganizing the Department of Education in a manner that could jeopardize its effectiveness. Protecting the Department's resources and organizational framework is essential to upholding its mandate of advancing educational opportunities for all.