PRESS RELEASE: Gutierrez: MAGA Justices Give Trump Green Light to Gut Education and Devastate Arizona Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2025 

PHOENIX – Arizona students and our state and national economy will pay a steep price if Trump guts the U.S. Department of Education now that the United States Supreme Court has given him the green light, said House Assistant Democratic Leader Nancy Gutierrez. Gutierrez, a public-school teacher and the caucus ranking member on the House Education Committee, said Trump is already illegally withholding appropriated education funds that schools need immediately for the upcoming semester. Now, if Trump dismantles the Department as promised, Arizona could lose nearly $1 billion in annual funding, and more than 20,000 teachers and other education specialists could lose their jobs. Also at risk: Federal funding for lower-income Title 1 schools, special education, help for students with disabilities, as well as grants for rural and Tribal schools. 

"Education is the great equalizer, and an educated society is the antidote to fascism. That is why public education is under attack by Trump and his right-wing cronies," Gutierrez said. "To say that I am disappointed in the Supreme Court is the understatement of the century. This same Supreme Court ruled that President Biden couldn't cancel student loans, but turns around and says that Trump can gut the Department of Education without Congressional approval? Ridiculous. Absolute partisan cowardice and capitulation, and our students and economy will pay the price." 

Gutierrez added, "The Department of Education is vital for funding Pell Grants, which allow students who can't afford tuition to access a college education. It plays a crucial role in distributing funds, enforcing civil rights laws, and promoting equal opportunity to education. This will be detrimental to our future as a country. To see this right-wing, MAGA agenda destroy our public education system that accepts all students and educates everyone is a travesty.  

If Trump guts the Department, it will mostly harm the most underserved communities. It will cripple Title 1 schools and our Special Education students will be dramatically impacted. Why would an administration want to hinder the ability for public education? An uneducated public is much easier to control, and I fear that this is the agenda moving forward and that the Judiciary Branch is aiding this. It's a very sad time for democracy." 

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