The following article was originally published on Rep. John B Larson’s website:
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after a federal judge halted the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, ordering the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff. In April, Larson and 192 House Democrats submitted an amicus brief in support of the Department of Education and its programs.
“Today’s decision is a victory for parents, students, and educators across the country,” said Larson. “In Connecticut alone, the Department of Education supports 88,000 children with disabilities and helps 63,000 students afford a college education through Pell Grants. These essential programs were put at risk by the President’s reckless executive order allowing Elon Musk and his ‘DOGE’ to make broad cuts with no oversight or accountability. President Trump has no authority to shut down the Department of Education on his own – only Congress can do that. I joined 192 House Democrats and 21 state Attorneys General to fight this illegal order, including Connecticut’s own William Tong, who continues to lead the fight against this Administration in court. If they want to dismantle the Department of Education, the Trump Administration must come before Congress and explain their plan for the future of our nation’s schools in the full light of day. Congress is a coequal branch of government, and we will have the final say.”
In Connecticut, the Department of Education’s programs fund:
- $156 million for Title I schools that serve 183,000 students
- $286 million for Pell Grants that support 63,000 students to be able to afford a college education
- $174 million that supports the 88,000 students with disabilities across Connecticut
Rep. Larson is a cosponsor of Rep. Jahana Hayes’ Department of Education Protection Act to ensure federal funding is not used to downsize or restructure the Department. He was one of 192 House Democrats who filed an amicus brief in court in support of the multi-state lawsuit opposing President Trump’s order to dismantle these programs.
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