First on ABC: Warren investigates impact on students, teachers from Education Dept. cuts

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Save Our Schools campaign is embarking on a thorough investigation into the Trump administration’s controversial move to close the Department of Education. In a statement exclusively obtained by ABC News, Warren expressed her intention to listen to the voices of students, parents, teachers, and borrowers who are negatively impacted by the administration’s decision.

Warren emphasized the importance of hearing the stories of those affected by the closure of the Department of Education, stating that their experiences are instrumental in shaping her advocacy efforts. She reached out to various education and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, NEA, and AFT, seeking their input on the potential repercussions of dismantling the department and transferring its responsibilities to other federal agencies.

In her letters to these groups, Warren condemned Trump’s plan as a “reckless crusade” that could jeopardize students’ access to affordable and high-quality public education. She requested detailed information on how funding cuts or service disruptions resulting from the closure of the department would impact students and families, giving the organizations until May 22 to respond.

Highlighting the critical functions of the Department of Education, Warren underscored the agency’s role in protecting students’ civil rights, providing financial assistance to students with disabilities, supporting educational research, and distributing federal aid for higher education. She warned of potential funding delays or cuts in school programs, such as free lunches for low-income students, as states brace for the impact of the department’s closure.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended the administration’s decision, assuring that mandatory program funding will not be affected and suggesting that more funding could be allocated to states in the absence of the department. However, Warren and advocacy groups like the National Parents Union and NAACP have criticized the move as a threat to democracy and students’ rights.

Warren’s investigation comes in the wake of approximately 2,000 employees being separated from the education department, raising concerns about the implications for student loan borrowers and essential services like Federal Student Aid. Through her Save Our Schools campaign, Warren is committed to challenging the administration’s efforts to dismantle public education through a combination of federal inquiries, oversight, storytelling, and legal action.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Warren vowed to defend public education against what she perceives as an unjust enrichment of billionaires at the expense of children’s futures. She affirmed her dedication to fighting against the closure of the Department of Education and ensuring that every child has access to quality education.