LULAC CONDEMNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ABOLISH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS AN ATTACK ON LATINO STUDENTS AND DEMOCRACY

Nation’s Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Mobilizes to Defend Public Education for All

Washington, D.C. – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) vehemently opposes President Donald Trump's executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. This action threatens the foundation of equitable public education for all children across the United States and Puerto Rico.

"At a time when Latinos make up more than 28% of all U.S. public school students, attacks on public education funding disproportionately harm our community," Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "Nearly 14 million Latino students rely on public schools as the primary pathway to opportunity, yet state and federal funding inequities have long left Latino-majority schools under-resourced. Eliminating federal oversight would only widen these gaps and set our children back for generations," he adds.

Public education is the cornerstone of our democracy, ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality learning opportunities. Approximately 49.6 million students are enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools across the United States, with an additional 251,000 students in Puerto Rico as of fall 2022.

"Education is the great equalizer, the most powerful tool to lift our communities, break cycles of poverty, and open doors to opportunity. Weakening public education threatens to slam those doors shut on Latino children and all historically underserved students across our nation."

Public education is not only a Latino issue but a national one. The Department of Education plays a crucial role in enforcing civil rights laws, ensuring students with disabilities receive necessary support, and directing billions in federal funding to schools serving low-income families. The department's dismantling would strip away these protections, leaving states to decide how and whether to uphold educational equity.

LULAC calls on all fair-minded Americans to demand that Congress stop dismantling federal agencies responsible for protecting our children's education. We urge voters to contact their representatives and remind them that public education is a public good—not a partisan issue.

"We must also send a clear message to the executive branch and President Trump," concludes Palomares. "America is a democracy built on the Constitution, not a nation ruled by political whims and shifting ideological tides. Public education is a right, not a privilege, and we will fight to defend it."

###

About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.