The White House issued an executive order on March 20 to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. If enacted, this decision would roll back decades of progress in ensuring equal access to quality education, disproportionately harming marginalized communities, including the youth we serve. While an executive order alone does not have the authority to shut down the Department of Education, since it still requires congressional approval, it does give the Secretary of Education the directive to take steps toward its closure. This move follows the recent termination of nearly two thousand Department of Education employees, marking yet another attack on public education.
The impact of such a decision would be catastrophic. The Department of Education has played a crucial role in advancing education equity, particularly for low-income students, students of color, English learners, and students with disabilities. Dismantling it would strip away essential protections and resources, deepening existing inequities. For many students in our communities, who already face systemic barriers, this would be devastating.
At Future Leaders of America (FLA), we believe education is a fundamental human right. A strong public education system has been one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of poverty, opening doors to opportunity, and building thriving communities. To dismantle it is to deny students the future they deserve. For decades, FLA has fought for education equity, working to eliminate systemic barriers that make achieving a college-going culture difficult in our communities. We will not stop now.