1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Please preserve the Department of Education. The Department of Education holds incredible significance in the lives of children with disabilities, serving as a crucial entity that holds schools and states accountable for their policies, teaching strategies, and actions. Without its presence, numerous children will be underserved and left behind, deprived of the research, funding, and services provided by the Department of Education. While the department may not be flawless, dissolving it is not the appropriate solution. I am concerned that many states will exploit this situation to defund public schools and redirect funds to private religious schools. This would leave children attending public schools, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds who cannot afford private schooling, to be unfairly deprived of essential funding for their education. Furthermore, I fear that some states will also use the lack of accountability as an opportunity to implement inaccurate depictions of history, to discriminate against LGBTQIA students, and to force things like prayer and religious teachings in public school. None of these things have any place in public education, which should have the goal of supporting, loving, and teaching truth and life skills to students, regardless of orientation, race, or religion. It is inappropriate for a former WWE wrestler to make decisions about education without the necessary expertise. I implore you to take action to prevent this disaster from occurring.