Worcester federal reps fear Trump’s education plans would be “chaotic”

WORCESTER — With President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House next year, local representatives expressed concern about the impact that Trump’s presidency could have on education.
“I am deeply concerned,” U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, told the Telegram & Gazette. “Money is going to be funneled away from public schools, and I expect him to continue his attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. He has not been an advocate for our public schools and I think (his administration) will attempt to cut federal money that goes to our public schools.”
Trump has outlined some of his plans for education through his platform, Agenda 47, which he boosted during the campaign trail. The most notable point Trump discussed on the campaign trail would be eliminating the Department of Education, the federal department that oversees federal education funding as well as the federal student loan program.
“I say it all the time, I’m dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” Trump said in September during a rally in Wisconsin. “We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to have our youth hearing.”
McGovern said the getting rid of the Department of Education, which was created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, would be “chaotic.”
“It would mean there are going to be a lot of people that are entitled to aid that won’t be able to get it, and it would cause mass confusion,” McGovern said.
McGovern said that during his previous presidency, Trump attempted to cut federal spending on public education by $9 billion, a move that was ultimately blocked by Congress. McGovern, who has been in Congress since 1997, said he believes that the current Republican-controlled Congress will be less likely to block a similar attempt if it does occur.
“In his first term he tried to eliminate $9 billion in funding to public education, and that was blocked by congress,” McGovern said. “It would take Congress to go along with this — and unfortunately talking to some of my colleagues, what I’ve heard is that whatever he wants, they will give him, which is shocking to me.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pointed out that Project 2025, a conservative initiative that was created by several former Trump administration employees, outlines a problematic future for public education. Trump himself has denied he has anything to do with Project 2025.
“Look at Project 2025. If enacted, Donald Trump’s plan would wreak havoc on public education in Massachusetts. Much-needed federal funds are on the chopping block. Student debt relief is in jeopardy. Protections for LGBTQ youth are at risk. I led the charge against Trump’s former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and I’m ready to fight for students, parents and teachers against any and all harm from extremist Republicans in Washington,” Warren stated.
Other aspects of Trump’s Agenda 47 include cutting federal funding for schools that are considered to be teaching “critical race theory,” altering the collegiate credential system which, according to his platform, have been controlled by “radical left accreditors” and promoting school choice, which would steer public education funding for pupils toward private institutions.
“I’m all for parents making the decision that is best for their children. If a parent wants to send their child to a private school, that is great. If they want to homeschool their child, I respect that as well,” McGovern said. “But I believe that every child has the right to attend a quality public school that can meet their needs, and our public schools can’t do that when they are chronically underfunded.”
State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, who represents the Worcester and Hampshire District at the state level, did not respond to requests for comment.