Rep. Craig Statement on Administration’s Radical Executive Order Dismantling Department of Education

EAGAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement in response to the Administration’s radical executive order dismantling the Department of Education.

“The Administration’s executive action gutting the Department of Education is a non-starter. It’s an attack on our kids, our teachers and on the future of our state.

“As the daughter of a teacher, the wife of an educator, a mother – and as someone who benefitted from the public education system in this country – I refuse to stand by and watch as this Administration takes life-changing opportunities away from our kids.

“While the President and Education Secretary Linda McMahon seem to think they can unilaterally shut down the Department of Education, the reality is they can’t shutter a government agency without Congressional action and support.

“I’m standing with Minnesota’s students, parents and teachers to oppose this radical executive action and protect our public schools at all costs.”

Rep. Craig has long fought to protect public education in Minnesota and across the country. This Congress, she co-sponsored the Department of Education Protection Act, which would prohibit Congressional funds from being used to fire agency workers or drastically alter the Education Department. She also led a joint resolution opposing cuts to the Department of Education and condemning any Congressional or Executive action that attempts to dismantle the Department.

In a show of support for Minnesota’s educators and in opposition to the Administration’s proposed cuts to education funding, Rep. Craig invited Education Minnesota President Denise Specht as her guest to this year’s State of the Union. Specht is the second teacher Rep. Craig has invited to accompany her to the State of the Union address during her time in Congress. In 2023, she brought Heather Mathews, a special education teacher from Apple Valley. 

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