McBride Condemns Trump Administration’s “Reckless and Illegal” Push to Dismantle the Department of Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) delivered a forceful floor speech condemning the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, calling the plan “illegal,” “reckless,” and “a direct threat to America’s children.”

McBride made clear that this isn’t a symbolic restructuring — it’s a blueprint that would take federal resources away from the students who need them most.

“Let’s be clear: dismantling the Department of Education isn’t about returning power to the states. It’s about defunding public education and funneling taxpayer dollars into private institutions with no accountability,” McBride said. “And the people who will pay the price are students — especially those with disabilities, those from low-income families, and those living in rural communities.”

The Human Impact: What Dismantling the Department Really Means

• Up to 180,000 teaching positions could be eliminated nationwide, according to analysis of the administration’s proposal to turn Title I into state block grants with no safeguards. That shift would affect 2.8 million students in low-income communities. 
• Roughly 7.5 million students with disabilities rely on services funded by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Moving or weakening this program would make it significantly less likely that students receive mandated services. 
• 9.8 million rural students depend on federal bridge funding to keep small schools open and staffed. Those funds would be at risk with no national strategy to replace them. 
• 26 million students from low-income backgrounds rely on federal supports that help close achievement gaps — supports that would be destabilized or eliminated. 
• 40 million student loan borrowers and 6.6 million Pell Grant recipients could face massive uncertainty if federal aid and loan servicing are shifted or dismantled. 
• Civil rights protections — including protections against discrimination based on race, gender, and disability — would be weakened if the Office for Civil Rights is moved out of the Department. Teachers and advocates warn millions of students would be left more vulnerable. 

Delaware’s Stakes: What We Stand to Lose

McBride emphasized that these consequences wouldn’t just be felt nationally — they would hit Delaware directly.

Delaware receives $530 million in federal education funding, supporting more than 1,100 teaching positions statewide. Those funds keep classroom sizes manageable, ensure students with disabilities receive required services, and support school districts with limited local tax bases.

“Removing that funding would mean students without teachers, schools without support, and communities left behind,” McBride said. “Families in Delaware have told me, again and again, that they want strong public schools. They know that when we destabilize a school system, it’s our kids who pay the price.”

McBride: “We Should Be Investing in Their Future — Not Abandoning Them”

McBride’s remarks echoed the warnings of educators across the country, including the National Education Association, which has said the administration’s proposal would ‘inflict damage on millions of low-income students’ and “gut federal protections and resources that allow every child to reach their full potential.” 

“I’ve stood arm-in-arm with Delaware educators, parents, and students who are sounding the alarm,” McBride said. “They’re asking for a fair shot — and we should be investing in their future, not abandoning them.”

The full video of McBride’s speech is available here.

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