Schumer says push to shutter Education Department would be DOA in Senate
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has made it clear that any attempt by Republicans to push a measure through the Senate to close the Department of Education would be met with strong opposition. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order directing the secretary of education to take steps to facilitate the closure of the department and return authority over education to the states and local communities.
During a recent speech, Trump reassured the public that the department’s essential functions would be preserved. However, Schumer emphasized that Trump cannot proceed with this plan without the approval of Congress, stating, “That’s the law.”
Schumer went on to declare that if Republicans try to move a bill through the Senate to shut down the Department of Education, Senate Democrats would block it. He stated, “It will go nowhere. It will be dead on arrival.”
The Department of Education was created by Congress less than 50 years ago, with the Department of Education Organization Act passed in October 1979. The department officially began operations in May 1980, consolidating offices from several federal agencies.
Schumer, who has been serving in Congress for almost as long as the Department of Education has been in existence, started in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981 before moving to the Senate in 1999.
As the debate over the future of the Department of Education continues, it is clear that Schumer and Senate Democrats are prepared to fight against any efforts to dismantle it. The importance of education and the role of the federal government in ensuring quality education for all Americans remains a central issue in the ongoing political discourse.
It is essential to stay informed and engaged in the discussions surrounding education policy and the Department of Education to ensure that the needs of students and teachers are met. Schumer’s strong stance on this issue highlights the significance of education in shaping the future of our nation.
